Meta will start removing Australian accounts it believes belong to 13–15 year olds from Facebook, Instagram and Threads on 4 December, ahead of a law that requires platforms to block under-16s from 10 December. Around 350,000 Instagram and 150,000 Facebook accounts in Australia are estimated to be in that age group. Affected users will be notified and may verify age with ID or a "video selfie" to regain access when they turn 16. Critics say the policy is hard to enforce and may have limited practical effect.
Meta to Block Australians Under 16 from Facebook, Instagram and Threads Starting Dec. 4
Meta will start removing Australian accounts it believes belong to 13–15 year olds from Facebook, Instagram and Threads on 4 December, ahead of a law that requires platforms to block under-16s from 10 December. Around 350,000 Instagram and 150,000 Facebook accounts in Australia are estimated to be in that age group. Affected users will be notified and may verify age with ID or a "video selfie" to regain access when they turn 16. Critics say the policy is hard to enforce and may have limited practical effect.
03:58 AM, 11/20/2025Technology
Meta has announced it will begin removing Australian users it believes are under 16 from Facebook, Instagram and Threads starting 4 December, ahead of new national rules that take effect on 10 December.
The Australian regulations require social platforms to block users under 16 or face penalties. Meta said it will notify accounts it believes belong to 13- to 15-year-olds and begin revoking access, aiming to remove all known under-16 accounts by 10 December.
How Meta will act
Meta said it will:
- Notify Australian users it believes are aged 13–15 that they will lose access to Instagram, Threads and Facebook.
- Block the creation of new under-16 accounts from 4 December and revoke access for existing accounts it identifies as under 16.
- Allow users to regain their accounts "exactly as you left it" once they turn 16.
Verification and appeals
Accounts flagged in error can verify their age by submitting government-issued ID or a "video selfie," Meta said. The company warned that incorrect flags could temporarily lock some teenagers out while the verification process is completed.
Scale and enforcement challenges
Government figures estimate roughly 350,000 Instagram users and about 150,000 Facebook accounts in Australia belong to 13–15-year-olds. Platforms that fail to comply with the law could face fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$32 million).
"We share the Australian Government's goal of creating safe, age-appropriate online experiences, but cutting teens off from their friends and communities isn't the answer," Meta said, reiterating concerns that the approach may be blunt and difficult to implement.
Observers and technology experts are watching whether Australia’s strict approach can be enforced effectively. Similar measures are being considered elsewhere: New Zealand's prime minister has signaled plans for comparable restrictions, and the Dutch government has advised parents to restrict social app use for younger teens.
While the law is among the strictest worldwide on paper, experts warn that reliable online age verification and enforcement remain difficult, which may limit the law's practical impact.