Meta Blocks 544K Accounts Under Australia's Teen Ban

Tech giant Meta reported blocking over 544,000 accounts under Australia's new social media ban for individuals under 16. The legislation, enacted on December 10, requires platforms like Meta, TikTok, and YouTube to prevent underage users from holding accounts, with potential fines of Aus$49.5 million for non-compliance. In the week following the ban's implementation, Meta removed 331,000 underage accounts from Instagram, 173,000 from Facebook, and 40,000 from Threads.

Meta has urged Australia to reconsider the broad ban, advocating for a more constructive approach that incentivizes industry-wide improvements in online safety and age-appropriate experiences. The company proposes that app stores be mandated to verify ages and obtain parental approval before allowing downloads for minors. Meta argues that such measures are more effective than a "whack-a-mole" strategy of simply banning accounts.

The company raised concerns that the ban might isolate young people from online communities and push them towards less regulated applications. Meta believes the legislation may not be achieving its stated objectives of enhancing the safety and well-being of young Australians. Meta has also co-founded the OpenAge Initiative, which has launched age-verification tools named AgeKeys for participating platforms.