DistantNews
Support us
Meta blocks over 750,000 youth accounts in Australia under social media ban
🇩🇪 Germany /Culture & Society

Meta blocks over 750,000 youth accounts in Australia under social media ban

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Meta has blocked over 750,000 accounts in Australia as part of the country's ban on social media for users under 16.
  • The company used artificial intelligence to identify accounts likely belonging to minors, blocking around 460,000 on Instagram and 290,000 on Facebook.
  • The effectiveness of Australia's ban, implemented in December 2025, is increasingly questioned as many youths reportedly bypass age restrictions.

Meta has blocked more than 750,000 accounts in Australia as part of the nation's social media ban for individuals under 16. The US tech giant reported blocking approximately 460,000 Instagram accounts and over 290,000 Facebook accounts.

Meta has blocked more than 750,000 accounts in Australia as part of the country's social media ban for under-16s.

— MetaMeta's statement on account blocking in Australia.

Meta utilized artificial intelligence to analyze profiles, posts, and captions to estimate users' ages. The company also enhanced systems to prevent users from creating new accounts after being banned. Despite these efforts, the efficacy of Australia's ban, enacted in December 2025 as the first of its kind globally, is facing scrutiny.

The number includes around 460,000 Instagram accounts and more than 290,000 Facebook accounts.

— MetaMeta's breakdown of blocked accounts by platform.

Reports indicate that many teenagers continue to access their accounts, largely by circumventing age verification measures. The Australian government introduced the ban to protect children from cyberbullying and harmful content, aiming to "give children back their childhood." Several European countries are reportedly considering similar legislation.

The company analyzed profiles, posts, comments, and captions using artificial intelligence to identify potential underage users.

— MetaMeta's explanation of its age verification methods.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog