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Meta has announced that it has removed access to more than 540,000 accounts in Australia believed to belong to users under the age of 16, as part of its efforts to comply with the country’s new teen social media law.
The legislation, which came into effect on December 10, places responsibility on social media platforms to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services, with potential fines of up to AUD 50 million for non-compliance. According to Meta, the account removals affect access to Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, though Instagram is considered the platform most impacted due to its popularity among younger users.
While the number of removed accounts is significant, questions remain about the law’s real-world effectiveness. Many teens are reportedly continuing to access content through VPNs, logged-out browsing, or alternative platforms, limiting the overall behavioural change the law intended to create.
Australia’s policy marks the first major age-based social media restriction in a Western nation, aiming to protect young users from harmful content and algorithmic influence. However, critics argue that the law is flawed, as it does not mandate a standardised method for verifying user age. Instead, platforms are required to take “reasonable steps” to restrict underage access — a term that remains legally ambiguous.
To strengthen compliance, Meta has announced plans to integrate AgeKeys, a digital age-verification system developed by OpenAge, starting in 2026. The tool would allow users to verify their age using methods such as government-issued ID, facial age estimation, financial information, or national digital wallets, while preserving user privacy.
Meta continues to advocate for age verification and parental approval at the app store level, arguing that app stores are better positioned to enforce age restrictions consistently across platforms and prevent teens from migrating to less regulated apps.
As more countries explore similar regulations, Meta’s experience in Australia highlights both the challenges of enforcing age-based social media bans and the broader debate over how best to protect young users online.
