Meta Urges Young Australians to Download Their Data Now Ahead of Possible Social-Media Ban

Meta has issued an alert encouraging young Australians to export and save their personal data now amid the prospect of a possible social-media ban. The company warned that affected users could lose access to photos, messages and other account content if platforms are restricted or blocked under new regulatory measures.

What Meta is advising

Export your account data: Meta recommends users request an account export through their profile or privacy settings to create a local copy of posts, photos, messages and profile information. Doing this in advance reduces the risk of losing important personal content.

How to store it safely: Once downloaded, copy the files to a secure location such as an encrypted external drive or a trusted cloud storage service. Do not rely on screenshots or single-device storage — keep at least one backup in a separate location.

Why this matters

The advisory reflects growing regulatory scrutiny in the region and demonstrates that policy changes can disrupt how people access and share their online histories. Young users, who often store memories and contacts on social apps, are especially vulnerable to sudden access changes.

If you rely on social platforms to communicate or keep important records, take a few minutes to export your information and verify backups. For specific steps, check your account’s privacy or data tools section and follow the platform’s official guidance.