Meta removes 756,000 underage social media accounts in Australia

Meta has announced the removal of 756,000 social media accounts in Australia identified as belonging to users under the age of 16. This action is in response to a new Australian law that mandates age restrictions for social media use, with the legislation set to fully take effect in December 2025.

The social media giant reported that its audits, conducted both before and since the law's introduction, led to the closure of 462,000 Instagram accounts and 294,000 Facebook accounts belonging to minors. Meta stated that its AI-powered detection systems are continuously monitoring platforms, and the number of removed accounts is expected to rise.

The Australian law applies to a range of platforms, including major ones like X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat, as well as others such as Reddit, Twitch, Threads, and Kick. The government's objective is to mitigate the negative impacts of algorithms and harmful content on children and young people.

Under the new regulations, social media companies that do not make reasonable efforts to remove accounts of users under 16 could face substantial penalties, with fines potentially reaching up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.