Meta has begun blocking Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts for users under 16 in response to Australia’s new social media law, ahead of the December 10 deadline. Hundreds of thousands of profiles are being removed or frozen as platforms comply with the landmark legislation.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant defended the action, saying, “We’ve reached a tipping point. Our data is the currency that fuels these companies, and there are powerful, harmful design features that even adults struggle to resist. What chance do our children have?”
TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube have also asked younger users to download their data and either delete or freeze their accounts until they turn 16.
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Sydney parent Jennifer Jennison welcomed the move: “It’s a great thing… Give my kids a break after school and they can rest and hang out with the family.”
Platforms that fail to block underage users face fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$32.7 million). Most major social networks, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Reddit, Kick, Twitch, and YouTube, have committed to compliance.