Tech giant Meta has asked the Australian government to revisit its newly implemented ban on social media use for those under 16, saying early signs suggest the policy may not be meeting its intended goals.
The request comes as Meta reported removing more than 544,000 underage accounts across its platforms following the law’s rollout.
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Australia’s new legislation, which took effect on December 10, 2025, requires major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and YouTube to prevent users under 16 from holding accounts. Companies that fail to take what the law describes as “reasonable steps” could face fines of up to AUS $49.5 million (or nearly ₱2 billion).
According to Meta, the takedowns included 331,000 Instagram accounts, 173,000 Facebook accounts, and 40,000 Threads accounts in just one week, leading up to December 11, 2026.
While the company said it’s complying with the law, it also raised concerns about the broader impact of an outright ban.
In a statement, Meta said it hopes the Australian government will work more closely with the tech industry to explore alternatives, such as encouraging platforms to improve safe, privacy-focused, and age-appropriate online experiences, rather than enforcing blanket restrictions.
One proposal Meta reiterated is shifting age verification to app stores, where users’ ages could be verified and parental approval required before under-16s are allowed to download social media apps. The company described this as a way to avoid a constant cycle of teens moving to new platforms to get around the ban.
Meta also cited concerns from parents and experts who worry that the policy could unintentionally isolate young people from online communities or push them toward less regulated platforms. Based on early observations, the company said the ban may not yet be delivering its intended outcomes of improving safety and well-being for young Australians.
At the same time, Meta acknowledged the challenges of verifying age online and said compliance with the law involves a “multilayered process.” As part of this effort, the company helped establish the OpenAge Initiative, a non-profit group that has launched age-verification tools called AgeKeys, which are designed to work across participating platforms.
As Australia continues to lead with one of the world’s strictest youth social media regulations, the conversation around online safety, access, and responsibility is still evolving, and how governments and tech companies meet in the middle remains to be seen.
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