Meta Disables 544,000 Accounts to Comply with Australian Youth Ban

The Government of Australia implemented a landmark social media ban for children under 16 on December 10, 2025, marking one of the strictest such policies globally by denying parental approval exemptions. To comply, Meta began revoking access for underage users on December 4, ultimately disabling 544,052 accounts by December 11. This total included 330,639 Instagram accounts, 173,497 Facebook accounts, and 39,916 Threads accounts.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the ban as a profound reform intended to protect children from harmful content and addictive algorithms. Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the move as a necessary shield for Generation Alpha against predatory algorithms. The eSafety Commissioner oversees enforcement, with platforms facing fines up to A$49.5 million for failing to take reasonable steps to block underage users.

Meta and TikTok both committed to legal compliance but criticized the blanket ban. Meta argued that the law creates a whack-a-mole effect, driving teens toward less regulated platforms or VPNs. The company advocated for app-store level age verification and announced a 2026 partnership with the non-profit OpenAge to integrate AgeKeys, a privacy-preserving verification tool. Meanwhile, other platforms including Reddit and the Digital Freedom Project launched legal challenges, arguing the ban restricts freedom of speech and isolates youth.