Meta Removes 750,000 Under-16 Australian Accounts Since Ban
- tech360.tv
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
According to Reuters, Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, stated it had removed more than 750,000 accounts suspected of being held by Australians under 16 years of age. This action follows a world-first ban on teen accounts in Australia. The company indicated it would take further measures amid potential regulatory intervention.
The social media organisation specified it deactivated 462,000 suspect Instagram accounts. An additional 294,000 suspect Facebook accounts were also removed. These figures represent the period from just before the Australian social media prohibition commenced in Dec. to June. This total marks an increase from the 331,000 Instagram accounts and 173,000 Facebook accounts Meta had reported removed by Jan. These removals are part of ongoing efforts to comply with new legislation.
But the world's largest social media company, despite its stated desire to comply with the law, had previously expressed opposition to the legislation. Australia's internet regulator is currently considering an enforcement lawsuit against various platforms, including some owned by Big Tech companies such as Meta. The regulator suggests these platforms have not undertaken sufficient steps to adhere to the new legal requirements.
Other platforms have not disclosed compliance data corresponding to the timeframe provided by Meta. However, Australian government statistics, alongside multiple independent studies, indicate that more than 80% of individuals under 16 were still accessing social media during the first three months of the ban. These findings suggest widespread non-compliance across the sector.
And the Australian government introduced the landmark law, which became effective on Dec. 10, due to concerns regarding social media's influence on the physical and mental wellbeing of children and young teenagers. Australia has accused social media platforms of deliberately contributing to the ban's failure, asserting that compliance measures have been inadequate.
The government has also enacted legislation to double the maximum penalty for non-compliance, raising it to AUD 99 million (USD 69.75 million). This new law also provides the regulator with enhanced powers for document discovery. Several other countries globally are contemplating similar age restrictions for social media access.
So representatives from Meta, TikTok, Google's YouTube, and Snap's Snapchat were scheduled to provide testimony in a parliamentary inquiry concerning these regulatory changes. Officials from both regulatory bodies and the government were also expected to give evidence during these proceedings. The inquiry examines the effectiveness and impact of the new ban.
Meta issued a statement affirming that enforcement actions remain ongoing, and the numbers of account removals are expected to increase. The organisation maintained that it shares the Australian Government's objective of ensuring young people experience online environments that are safe and age appropriate. It stated its commitment to meeting its obligations under the current law.
But an Australian trial conducted in 2025 demonstrated that age assurance technology available on the market could effectively support such a ban. Most major platforms, including those operated by Meta, implemented software based on photographs for age estimation. However, they typically first employ age inference, which involves estimating a person's age based on their digital activity.
Meta reported its use of artificial intelligence to examine user profiles for specific "contextual clues" that might indicate an account holder is under 16. These clues include mentions of school grades or birthday celebrations. The company also analyses reports submitted about suspected underage accounts, forming multiple approaches to identification.
And the platform stated it has removed the facility for individuals to make repeated attempts at setting up a new account once their previous one has been deleted for age related reasons. This measure aims to prevent circumvention of the age restrictions. Such mechanisms are integral to ongoing compliance efforts.
Meta deactivated over 750,000 Instagram and Facebook accounts suspected of belonging to individuals under 16 years of age in Australia.
The Australian government implemented a social media ban for under-16s in Dec., citing concerns about youth wellbeing.
Australia has accused platforms of insufficient compliance, raising non-compliance penalties to AUD 99 million (USD 69.75 million).
Representatives from major social media companies are scheduled to testify in an Australian parliamentary inquiry.
Meta employs artificial intelligence and other age assurance methods to detect and remove underage users.
Source: Reuters
