Meta Australia to Remove All Under-16 Accounts from Facebook and Instagram by December 4
Australians younger than 16 will soon be removed from Facebook and Instagram, with Meta Australia confirming the change ahead of the upcoming under-16 social media ban . The company announced on Thursday (November 20, 2025) that from December 4, all users below the age limit will lose access as Australia’s new social media law prepares to take effect.
Starting December 10, Australia will legally require platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to take down accounts belonging to users under 16, or else face heavy penalties. As the new Australia social media law nears enforcement, Meta has begun acting early to comply with the strict teen safety online requirements.
According to Meta, the company has already started notifying Australian users it identifies as 13–15 years old. These users are being informed that they will lose access to Instagram, Threads, and Facebook, as part of the broader Facebook Instagram age restriction rules that now fall under the new legislation. The company says it will begin blocking new under-16 accounts and disabling existing ones starting December 4.
Government figures show there are around 3,50,000 Instagram users aged 13–15 in Australia and roughly 1,50,000 Facebook accounts in the same age group—numbers that highlight the large impact of the upcoming Meta Australia ban. Impacted teens have already started receiving messages warning them that their profiles will soon be inaccessible under the new under-16 social media ban.
One message reads: “Soon, you’ll no longer be able to use Facebook and your profile won’t be visible to you or others.” Another assures users that once they turn 16, they will be alerted that they can return to the platform, in line with the Facebook Instagram age restriction rules built into the Australia social media law.
Meta is also telling young users that when they turn 16, they will be able to access their accounts “exactly as you left it”. This reassurance comes as part of the company’s effort to navigate the teen safety online demands of the country’s new regulations.
For those mistakenly flagged as underage, Meta is offering an age-verification process. Users can either upload government-issued ID or complete a “video selfie” to prove their age. These measures fall under the compliance framework required by the Australia social media law, which imposes strict responsibilities on platforms during the Meta Australia ban rollout.
However, several social media companies have criticised the legislation as “vague”, “problematic”, and “rushed”. Meta again voiced concerns on Thursday (November 20, 2025), stating that while it supports teen safety online, cutting off teens from their digital communities may not be the best approach. The company stressed that the under-16 social media ban risks isolating young users rather than protecting them.
Globally, regulators will be watching closely to see whether Australia’s social media law is enforceable in practice. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has already announced plans for a similar bill to limit children’s social media use, while the Dutch government has advised parents to stop kids under 15 from accessing apps like TikTok and Snapchat—moves that echo the principles behind the Meta Australia ban.
If companies fail to follow the rules, they could face penalties of up to AUS$49.5 million (US$32 million). On paper, the under-16 social media ban is one of the strictest measures worldwide. But some experts warn that verifying ages at scale may be extremely difficult, raising concerns that the Australia social media law could end up being largely symbolic despite its tough stance on teen safety online.
Starting December 10, Australia will legally require platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to take down accounts belonging to users under 16, or else face heavy penalties. As the new Australia social media law nears enforcement, Meta has begun acting early to comply with the strict teen safety online requirements.
According to Meta, the company has already started notifying Australian users it identifies as 13–15 years old. These users are being informed that they will lose access to Instagram, Threads, and Facebook, as part of the broader Facebook Instagram age restriction rules that now fall under the new legislation. The company says it will begin blocking new under-16 accounts and disabling existing ones starting December 4.
Government figures show there are around 3,50,000 Instagram users aged 13–15 in Australia and roughly 1,50,000 Facebook accounts in the same age group—numbers that highlight the large impact of the upcoming Meta Australia ban. Impacted teens have already started receiving messages warning them that their profiles will soon be inaccessible under the new under-16 social media ban.
One message reads: “Soon, you’ll no longer be able to use Facebook and your profile won’t be visible to you or others.” Another assures users that once they turn 16, they will be alerted that they can return to the platform, in line with the Facebook Instagram age restriction rules built into the Australia social media law.
Meta is also telling young users that when they turn 16, they will be able to access their accounts “exactly as you left it”. This reassurance comes as part of the company’s effort to navigate the teen safety online demands of the country’s new regulations.
For those mistakenly flagged as underage, Meta is offering an age-verification process. Users can either upload government-issued ID or complete a “video selfie” to prove their age. These measures fall under the compliance framework required by the Australia social media law, which imposes strict responsibilities on platforms during the Meta Australia ban rollout.
However, several social media companies have criticised the legislation as “vague”, “problematic”, and “rushed”. Meta again voiced concerns on Thursday (November 20, 2025), stating that while it supports teen safety online, cutting off teens from their digital communities may not be the best approach. The company stressed that the under-16 social media ban risks isolating young users rather than protecting them.
Globally, regulators will be watching closely to see whether Australia’s social media law is enforceable in practice. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has already announced plans for a similar bill to limit children’s social media use, while the Dutch government has advised parents to stop kids under 15 from accessing apps like TikTok and Snapchat—moves that echo the principles behind the Meta Australia ban.
If companies fail to follow the rules, they could face penalties of up to AUS$49.5 million (US$32 million). On paper, the under-16 social media ban is one of the strictest measures worldwide. But some experts warn that verifying ages at scale may be extremely difficult, raising concerns that the Australia social media law could end up being largely symbolic despite its tough stance on teen safety online.
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