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Meta Platforms has called on Australia to reconsider its pioneering social media ban targeting users under 16, amidst reports that over 544,000 accounts have been blocked under the new law. Since the legislation took effect on December 10, big social media firms like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube have been required to prevent underage users from creating accounts. Penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to AU$49.5 million (approximately US$33 million) if companies do not take “reasonable steps” to adhere.
Meta reported that in the week leading up to December 11, it had removed 331,000 underage accounts from Instagram, 173,000 from Facebook, and 40,000 from Threads. The company affirmed its commitment to follow the law but urged the Australian government to work more collaboratively with the industry. They suggested that incentives could be implemented to encourage safer, privacy-focused, age-appropriate online experiences, rather than imposing blanket bans.
Meta reiterated its previous call for app stores to verify user ages and secure parental approval before allowing children under 16 to download apps, emphasizing this as the most effective way to prevent a “whack-a-mole” situation where minors switch to new apps to evade restrictions. The government maintained its stance that social media companies should be held responsible for protecting young Australians, citing the significant data these companies collect for commercial purposes. A government spokesperson stated that platforms like Meta have the data necessary to ensure that minors are not on their platforms and should use it to comply with Australian regulations.
Concerns remain that the ban might isolate young users from online communities, potentially driving some toward less regulated platforms or darker parts of the internet. Meta noted that initial results indicate the legislation may not effectively improve the safety and well-being of young Australians, raising issues about the absence of a standardized method for online age verification. In response, Meta has supported the establishment of the OpenAge Initiative, a nonprofit that has introduced age-verification tools called AgeKeys for use on participating platforms.
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