Meta urges Australia to reconsider under-16 social media ban after blocking over 500,000 accounts

Meta says it removed nearly 550,000 accounts it believed belonged to under-16s around the time Australia’s Online Safety Amendment Act 2024 took effect; the company urged the government to engage with industry and proposed age verification tools.

Meta has asked the Australian government to rethink a new law that limits social media access for people under 16 and said it has taken steps to comply. The Online Safety Amendment Act 2024 began on Dec. 11 and bars access to several major services. Meta reported it removed a large number of accounts it believed were operated by under-16s during the days around the law’s start. The company has also highlighted age verification options as an alternative approach. Key facts: - Australia’s Online Safety Amendment Act 2024 took effect on Dec. 11 and restricts access to a group of major services, including Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat and X. - Meta reported removing nearly 550,000 accounts believed to belong to under-16s between Dec. 4 and Dec. 11, with the largest numbers on Instagram and Facebook. - Meta called on the government to engage with industry and described age verification tools called Age Keys as a possible way to provide age-appropriate, privacy-preserving experiences. Summary: The law is currently in effect and Meta says it has acted to comply while urging a different regulatory approach and industry-wide measures. Undetermined at this time.