News|Social MediaMeta starts blocking teens in Australia under social media banAustralia’s world-first ban requires 10 major online platforms to block users aged 16.
## Regulation: Social Media Age Restrictions in Australia
Regulation: Social Media Age Restrictions in Australia
Meta has initiated the removal of users under 16 years old from its Instagram, Threads, and Facebook platforms in Australia. This action is in response to the country’s upcoming legislation aimed at restricting social media access for minors, set to take effect on Mon, Dec 10, 2025.
A Meta representative stated that the process of removing users under the age of 16 is ongoing and involves multiple layers to ensure compliance with the new regulation.
The Australian law requires major online platforms, including TikTok and YouTube, to prevent access to underage users by the December deadline. Non-compliance may result in fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32 million USD).
Approximately 350,000 Australian Instagram users aged 13 to 15 are expected to be affected by this regulation. Certain platforms like Roblox, Pinterest, and WhatsApp have been exempted from this requirement, although the list is subject to periodic review. Recently, Twitch was added to the regulated list.
Meta has affirmed its intention to comply with Australian law. However, it advocates for app stores to implement age verification and obtain parental consent for users under 16, potentially streamlining the process across various platforms.
Meta has initiated the removal of users under 16 years old from its Instagram, Threads, and Facebook platforms in Australia.
Meta suggests that social media platforms could utilize verified age data to ensure age-appropriate experiences for users.
YouTube has expressed concerns about the new law, suggesting it could reduce safety for users under 16, as they could still access the site without an account, losing protective filters in the process.
Australia's Communications Minister, Anika Wells, countered these claims, stating that if YouTube acknowledges inappropriate content for minors, it should address those issues internally.
The internet rights group Digital Freedom Project has challenged the legislation in Australia's High Court, arguing that it compromises freedom of speech. Despite this, platforms are expected to develop strategies to prevent minors from bypassing the age restrictions, although no solution is predicted to be entirely foolproof.
International interest in Australia's regulatory approach is growing, with countries like Malaysia considering similar measures for implementation next year. European nations, including France, Denmark, Greece, and New Zealand, are also exploring age restrictions for social media use.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.