Scroll Time’s Up? Meta Moves to Kick Under-16s Off Instagram & Facebook in Australia

Meta is preparing to block access to Instagram and Facebook for users under the age of 16 in Australia. The company has begun informing users it believes are between 13 and 15 through in-app messages, emails and text notifications, warning them that their accounts will soon be deactivated.

Starting 4 December, Meta will begin shutting down these accounts and stopping new registrations from anyone under 16. The entire removal process is expected to be completed by 10 December.

According to Meta, it will rely on multiple age-verification methods to comply with the new law, while keeping data collection to a minimum. Additional information will only be requested when the company has reason to doubt a user’s declared age.

Antigone Davis, Meta’s vice president and global head of safety, said that while the goal is to remove all under-16 accounts by 10 December, full compliance will be ongoing and require continued oversight.

Australia’s internet regulator estimates there are roughly 350,000 Instagram users and 150,000 Facebook users aged 13 to 15 in the country. No official figures have been provided for Threads