Meta starts blocking Aussie teens from Facebook and Instagram by December 10

Meta will block Australian users under the age of 16 from accessing Facebook, Instagram, and Threads starting December 10, 2025, to comply with Australia's new social media ban for teenagers, the company announced on November 19. The move follows a sweeping law that requires social media platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent minors from having accounts, with heavy fines of up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance[1][2][3].

Meta has already started notifying users it believes to be b...

Meta has already started notifying users it believes to be between 13 and 15 years old through in-app messages, emails, and texts that their accounts will be deactivated. From December 4, Meta will begin deactivating these accounts and blocking any new sign-ups from users under 16. The process is expected to be complete by December 10, coinciding with the law's official enforcement date[1][2][3].

To enforce the ban, Meta plans to use several age assurance...

To enforce the ban, Meta plans to use several age assurance methods and adopt a data minimisation approach, meaning it will only seek additional information if it doubts the accuracy of a user's stated age. Antigone Davis, Meta’s vice president and global head of safety, emphasized that compliance will be ongoing and involve multiple layers of verification[1][2].

According to Australia's internet regulator, approximately 1...

According to Australia's internet regulator, approximately 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram users in Australia are aged between 13 and 15. No official data has been released for Threads users in this age group. Affected teenagers will have options to update their contact details to be notified when they turn 16, download their data, or delete their accounts entirely[1][2][3].

Australia’s legislation is considered one of the most compre...

Australia’s legislation is considered one of the most comprehensive efforts globally to regulate minors’ access to social media, and it is being closely watched by regulators worldwide. The law also impacts other platforms like TikTok, which has similarly agreed to comply by the same deadline, although concerns remain about enforcement challenges and potential youth migration to less regulated parts of the internet[4].

Additionally, under the new rules, teens under 16 will no lo...

Additionally, under the new rules, teens under 16 will no longer be able to livestream on Instagram without parental consent, and certain content moderation features, like blurring suspected nudity in direct messages, will require parental approval. These safeguards are extended to Facebook and Messenger as well, reflecting Meta’s broader efforts to protect younger users under Australia’s new framework[5].

This historic move puts significant responsibility on social...

This historic move puts significant responsibility on social media companies to verify users’ ages effectively and protect minors from potentially harmful online content, setting a precedent that may influence global social media regulation trends.