Meta Kicks 756,000 Under-16s Off Its Social Media Platforms in Australia

According to the Arab Times Kuwait, Meta has deactivated approximately 756,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts in Australia identified as belonging to users under the age of 16. This move comes as the company faces increasing pressure to comply with strict digital safety standards and age-verification requirements within the Australian market.

The enforcement action highlights a broader trend of social media platforms tightening their age-gating mechanisms in response to government mandates aimed at protecting minors from online harms. By identifying and removing accounts that do not meet the minimum age criteria, Meta is attempting to align its platform operations with local regulatory expectations regarding user safety and data privacy for younger demographics.

While Meta has not issued a global statement confirming the exact number of accounts removed in this specific sweep, the company has consistently stated its commitment to restricting access for underage users. The deactivation of such a significant volume of accounts underscores the challenges platforms face in verifying user age at scale. Industry observers note that as Australia continues to refine its digital safety laws, similar enforcement measures are expected to become more frequent across all major social media networks operating in the country.