Australia has approved a measure that will require social media platforms to restrict access to users under 16. Meta has already implemented a plan to block access to Facebook, Instagram, and Threads for Australian teenagers who are under that age.
The company has begun notifying affected accounts and will establish a phased timeline for complying with the law once it takes effect. The goal is to prevent anyone under the age of 16 from maintaining or creating an account on these networks by mid-December.
Timeline and scope of the measure
Meta has announced that the process begins on December 4th with the gradual deactivation of accounts and the blocking of new registrations for minors. Complete access closure is expected on December 10th , the date on which the regulations fully come into effect.
Warnings to those believed to be between 13 and 15 years old are being sent from the app itself, via email, and by SMS . These users have a 14-day notice period before losing access.
The restriction applies to Facebook, Instagram , and Threads . The Messenger service is excluded from the ban, so teenagers can continue using Messenger without needing an active Facebook account.
Meta has indicated that the rollout will be gradual and that compliance will be carried out in phases, with the commitment to complete the withdrawal of accounts before or on the same day the law comes into effect.
Age verification and access recovery
To comply with the legal requirement, Meta will employ various age verification methods and states that it will do so under a data minimization approach, requesting additional information only when there are reasonable doubts about the declared age.
If a user is flagged in error, they can verify their age with a video selfie or an official document using Yoti's third-party verification technology. The company avoids detailing all the detection criteria to prevent potential circumvention of the controls.
Teenagers affected by the measure have the option to download their data , delete their accounts, or update their contact information to receive a notification when they turn 16 and can return to the platforms.
Meta assures that, upon regaining access from the age of 16, the user's content will be available exactly as it was left , so that no posts or conversations are lost.
How many users does this affect?
The Australian internet regulator estimates that there are around 150.000 Facebook users and about 350.000 Instagram users aged 13 to 15. No figures have been provided for Threads.
The initiative, championed by the Government as a step towards reducing children's exposure to online risks , aims to ensure that children experience their childhood without undue digital pressures.
The measure aligns with a broader effort to monitor minors' access to social media, and is considered a pioneering decision due to its scope and implementation timeline.
The company has begun communicating the process to potentially affected profiles well in advance, in order to avoid abrupt cuts and make it easier for each family to manage the transition.
Legal framework and sanctions
The legislation, known as the Social Media Minimum Age (an amendment to the Online Safety Act), requires platforms to take reasonable measures to prevent users under 16 from having accounts. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 49,5 million Australian dollars.
Meta emphasizes that compliance will be a continuous and multi-level process , and that its priority is to adapt without collecting more data than necessary to confirm users' ages.
The company also explained that the controls will be updated iteratively, so that platforms can respond to new attempts to circumvent the verification systems.
The Australian government is proposing the law as a tool to reduce exposure to bullying, misinformation, and harmful content among teenagers, with the threat of sanctions for those who fail to act.
Platform reactions and international landscape
Meta has expressed reservations about an outright ban and proposes alternative approaches, such as strengthened parental controls and age verification in app stores. Even so, the company will comply with the Australian mandate.
Other platforms are also preparing: TikTok and Snapchat have indicated they will comply with the law, while YouTube is questioning its inclusion and exploring other options. X and other services have expressed their opposition to the regulation.
The impact of the law is being felt beyond Australia. New Zealand is considering similar legislation, and in Europe, the Dutch government has recommended that families prevent children under 15 from using certain apps. The debate on balancing youth safety and digital access will remain active and closely monitored by regulators worldwide.
With the deadlines set, the removals will begin on December 4 and be completed by the 10th, with prior notices, options to download data and verification methods designed to avoid errors; a plan that faces multimillion-dollar fines if it fails and that will set the course for how major platforms manage the presence of minors on networks.
