Meta Blocks 550,000 Teen Accounts Under Ban Law

Meta has blocked roughly 550,000 accounts in the early days of complying with Australia’s new law banning under-16s from using major social media platforms, offering the first concrete data on the impact of what is now the world’s toughest age-based restriction on social media.

The legislation, which came into force in December, requires platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and Threads to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from holding accounts. The policy has drawn global attention as governments in multiple regions explore ways to curb children’s exposure to harmful online content and algorithm-driven engagement.

In a blog update published last week, Meta said it removed 330,639 Instagram accounts, 173,497 Facebook accounts, and 39,916 Threads accounts during its first week of enforcement. The company said the removals were part of its initial compliance efforts under the new law.

While Meta has acknowledged concerns around child safety online, it reiterated its opposition to blanket bans. “We call on the Australian government to engage with industry constructively to find a better way forward, such as incentivising all of industry to raise the standard in providing safe, privacy-preserving, age appropriate experiences online, instead of blanket bans,” the company said.

Meta again argued that age verification should be handled at the app store or operating system level rather than by individual apps. According to the company, this approach would reduce regulatory complexity and provide consistent protections across platforms. “This is the only way to guarantee consistent, industry-wide protections for young people, no matter which apps they use.”