Home / Technology / Meta Culls Teen Accounts Ahead of Social Media Ban
Meta Culls Teen Accounts Ahead of Social Media Ban
20 Nov
Summary
- Meta will remove Facebook and Instagram accounts for 13-15 year olds.
- The company is notifying teen users of these upcoming changes.
- Government's social media ban for under-16s takes effect December 10.
Meta is initiating the removal of Facebook and Instagram accounts belonging to children aged 13 to 15, commencing a week before the government's strict social media ban. Teen users will receive notifications regarding these impending changes starting Thursday. The company stated it aims to block as many underage users as possible.
However, Meta has cautioned that substantial errors remain within its age verification systems. This suggests that the implementation of the world-first teen ban, targeting users under 16 across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, will likely encounter complex hurdles. The ban is scheduled for full effect by December 10.
The government's directive has garnered international praise, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen calling it "plain common sense." Furthermore, the New Zealand parliament is poised to debate similar legislation, highlighting a growing global concern over child online safety and platform accountability.
