Meta removes over 750,000 Australian teen accounts amid regulatory scrutiny

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced it has taken down more than 750,000 accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under the age of 16. This action follows the implementation of a world-first ban on teen accounts in Australia, with Meta pledging further measures amid potential regulatory intervention.

From the ban's inception in December until June, Meta deactivated 462,000 suspect Instagram accounts and 294,000 suspect Facebook accounts. This represents a significant increase from the 331,000 Instagram and 173,000 Facebook accounts it reported removing by January.

The world's largest social media company stated its intention to comply with the law, despite vocal opposition from itself and other platforms. This comes as Australia's internet regulator contemplates an enforcement lawsuit against platforms, including some owned by Meta, for allegedly failing to adequately comply with the legislation.

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Enforcement is ongoing, and these numbers will continue to grow.

While other platforms have not released comparable compliance data for the same period, Australian government figures and independent studies indicate that over 80% of under-16s remained on social media during the ban's initial three months. The Australian government introduced the law in December, citing concerns about social media's impact on the mental and physical health of children and young teenagers.

Australia has accused platforms of intentionally undermining the ban and has strengthened the law, doubling the maximum penalty for non-compliance to A$99 million and granting the regulator enhanced document discovery powers. Representatives from Meta, TikTok, Google (YouTube's owner), and Snap (Snapchat) are scheduled to testify at a parliamentary inquiry on Friday regarding these changes. Meta reiterated its commitment to ensuring safe, age-appropriate online experiences for young people and meeting its legal obligations.

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We share the Australian Government's goal of ensuring young people have safe, age-appropriate experiences online, and we are meeting our obligations under the law.