What did Meta do in response to Australia's ban on under-16s?

Meta blocked over 544,000 accounts in Australia under the new law targeting users under 16.

What are the penalties for social media platforms in Australia?

Platforms failing to comply with Australia's social media ban for under-16s face fines up to Aus$49.5 million.

What alternative did Meta suggest to Australia's ban?

Meta suggested implementing age verification by app stores and requiring parental approval for app downloads.

Home / Technology / Meta Blocks 544K Accounts Under Australia's Teen Ban

Meta Blocks 544K Accounts Under Australia's Teen Ban

12 Jan

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Summary

Meta blocked over 544,000 underage accounts since December 10.
Australia's new law imposes fines of Aus$49.5 million for non-compliance.
Meta advocates for age verification and parental approval instead of bans.

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.