Home / Technology / Australia Bans Under-16s on Meta Platforms
Australia Bans Under-16s on Meta Platforms
4 Dec
Summary
- Meta will block Australian users under 16 from Facebook and Instagram.
- Companies face fines of up to $49.5 million for non-compliance.
- Australia aims to protect teens from harmful online content.
Tech giant Meta announced it is starting to remove Australian users under the age of 16 from its platforms, including Instagram and Facebook. This action is in preparation for the country's new youth social media ban, set to take effect on December 10. Companies failing to comply with the legislation risk substantial fines of up to $49.5 million.
The Australian government's new law requires major online platforms to block underage users. Meta stated that while they are working to remove all users under 16, ensuring compliance will be an ongoing process. Younger users will be able to download their content before access is restricted, with notifications sent when they turn 16 about regaining access.
This landmark legislation is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of adolescents, with Instagram alone reporting approximately 350,000 users aged 13 to 15 in Australia. The government asserts the ban is necessary to protect children from harmful online content and its detrimental effects on self-esteem, citing instances where algorithms have targeted teens with damaging material.
