Australia, Social Media Ban, Under-16, Meta, Facebook, and Instagram.

 

The Australian Federal Government (often referred to by its capital, Canberra) is enforcing a strict new law banning children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms.

In compliance with this legislation, Meta announced on November 20, 2025, that it will begin deactivating the accounts of Australian teenagers aged 13–15 ahead of the law's full enforcement date.

• December 4, 2025: Meta will begin blocking new account creations for under-16s and will start revoking access for existing users aged 13–15.

• December 10, 2025: The Australian law officially takes full effect. From this date, social media platforms face fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (approx. USD 32 million) if they fail to take "reasonable steps" to prevent under-16s from having accounts.

• Meta's Response and Implementation

  Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads) is the first major tech giant to outline exactly how it will comply.

  1. Account Freezing, Not Deletion

  Meta has stated that while users under 16 will lose access, their accounts will not be permanently deleted immediately. Instead:

  • Accounts will be effectively "frozen."

  • Users are currently receiving notifications (via email, SMS, and in-app alerts) advising them to download their data (photos, messages, videos) immediately.

  • When the user turns 16, they will be notified that they can regain access to their account "exactly as they left it."

  2. Identification and Verification

  • Meta is identifying users based on the age currently listed on their profiles and other data signals.

  • Challenge Mechanism: If a user believes they have been flagged incorrectly (i.e., they are actually over 16), they can appeal the decision. This will likely involve:

    • Uploading a government-issued ID.

    • Using a "video selfie" age estimation tool (often provided by third-party services like Yoti).

  Scope of the Ban

  The legislation is broad, but there are specific inclusions and likely exemptions.

  Platforms Banned for Under-16s:

  • Instagram

  • Facebook

  • TikTok

  • X (formerly Twitter)

  • Snapchat

  • Reddit

  • Kick

  Likely Exemptions: Services that are primarily for communication or education are expected to remain accessible:

  • YouTube Kids

  • WhatsApp (and likely Messenger Kids)

  • Google Classroom

  • Gaming platforms like Roblox (though Roblox is introducing its own restrictions on chatting for users under 16).