(Sydney) Social media giant Meta announced on Thursday that it will ban Australians under the age of 16 from using its social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, starting December 4th.
The Australian government has mandated that social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, must remove users under the age of 16 from December 10th, or face hefty fines. Meta stated that it will begin removing underage users from its platforms before the ban takes effect.
Meta issued a statement on Thursday (November 20th) saying, "From today, Meta will notify Australian users identified by the company as being between 13 and 15 years old that they will be unable to use Instagram, Threads, and Facebook."
The statement also said, "From December 4th, Meta will block newly registered accounts under the age of 16 and revoke access to existing accounts, and expects to remove all known users under the age of 16 by December 10th."
Government data shows that there are approximately 350,000 Instagram users aged 13 to 15 in Australia, and approximately 150,000 Facebook users in the same age group.
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Meta has begun notifying affected users that their accounts will soon be suspended. The notice stated, "Soon, you will no longer be able to use Facebook, your profile will disappear, and no one else will be able to see it. We will notify you when you turn 16 that you can resume using Facebook."
According to the notice, once teenagers turn 16, they can use their accounts "exactly as they were when you left." Mislabeled accounts can verify their age through a "video selfie" or by providing a government-issued ID.
It is understood that social media companies that violate the ban face fines of up to AU$49.5 million (approximately S$41.9 million). On the surface, this is one of the strictest bans in the world, but some experts worry that the law may ultimately be ineffective due to the difficulty in implementing and regulating online age verification.
Meta reiterated its concerns about the implementation of the ban on Thursday. "We agree with the Australian government's goal of creating a safe, age-appropriate online experience for teenagers, but cutting off teenagers' connections with friends and the community is not the solution."
Given the global struggle of regulators to address the risks posed by social media, the effectiveness of Australia's comprehensive restrictions is attracting considerable attention.
New Zealand Prime Minister Lukeson will introduce a similar bill to restrict children's use of social media. The Dutch government also recommended this year that parents ban children under 15 from using social media apps such as TikTok and Snapchat.
