The global spotlight is fixed firmly on Australia as tech behemoth Meta confirmed Thursday it has begun the process of removing users under the age of 16 from Instagram, Threads, and Facebook in the country. This move is in preparation for Australia’s new, first-in-the-world youth social media ban set to take effect on December 10th.
This groundbreaking new legislation requires all major online platforms, including TikTok and YouTube, to effectively block underage users. Failure to take “reasonable steps” toward compliance could cost these companies dearly, with fines of up to AU$49.5 million (US$32 million).
A Meta spokesperson acknowledged the challenge, stating, “While we are working hard to remove all users who we understand to be under the age of 16 by December 10, compliance with the law will be an ongoing and multi-layered process.” The company also assured users that younger individuals being removed will be able to save and download their online histories. Furthermore, the spokesperson noted, “Before you turn 16, we will notify you that you will soon be allowed to regain access to these platforms, and your content will be restored exactly as you left it.”
The impact is significant, with hundreds of thousands of Australian adolescents expected to be affected. For scale, Instagram alone reports having approximately 350,000 Australian users aged 13 to 15. While some popular services like Roblox, Pinterest, and WhatsApp are currently exempt from the immediate mandate, the overall list of platforms is still under regulatory review.
Call for App Store Accountability
While Meta asserts its commitment to adhering to the new Australian law, it has simultaneously called for a change in how age verification is handled, suggesting that app stores should bear the responsibility for checking user ages first.
The company argued, “The government should require app stores to verify age and obtain parental approval whenever teens under 16 download apps, eliminating the need for teens to verify their age multiple times across different apps.” The proposed benefit is that social media platforms could then simply use this reliable, verified age information to ensure teenagers are placed into age-appropriate experiences.
Meta isn’t the only giant pushing back. YouTube has also publicly attacked the new social media restrictions. The video-streaming powerhouse claimed this week that the new law could actually make young Australians “less safe.” Their logic hinges on the fact that under-16s could still visit the website without an account but would consequently lose access to YouTube’s built-in safety filters intended for logged-in users.
Government Stands Firm on Safety
Australia’s Communications Minister, Anika Wells, dismissed YouTube’s argument as “weird.”
“If YouTube is reminding us all that it is not safe and there’s content not appropriate for age-restricted users on their website, that’s a problem that YouTube needs to fix,” Minister Wells stated to reporters this week. She emotionally recounted cases where algorithms had “latched on” to vulnerable Australian teens, targeting them with content that actively drained their self-esteem, leading tragically to some taking their own lives.
The Minister acknowledged that “This specific law will not fix every harm occurring on the internet, but it will make it easier for kids to chase a better version of themselves.”
Despite the clear focus on protection, the legislation faces resistance. The Digital Freedom Project, an internet rights group, recently launched a legal challenge in Australia’s High Court, labelling the laws an “unfair” assault on freedom of speech.
The Global Test Case
Regulators in Australia are fully anticipating that rebellious teenagers will inevitably try to skirt the new restrictions. Official guidelines warn that they might attempt to upload fake identification or use AI tools to artificially age their photos. Platforms are expected to develop their own systems to prevent this, though the internet safety watchdog has already cautioned that “no solution is likely to be 100 percent effective.”
There is considerable international interest in whether Australia’s comprehensive restrictions can truly work, given that regulators across the globe are grappling with the immense potential dangers associated with social media use among the young. Already, Malaysia has indicated plans to block children under 16 from creating social media accounts next year, and New Zealand is set to introduce a similar ban, highlighting the urgency of this regulatory challenge worldwide.
