Meta takes down 756,000 Australian teen accounts as ban enforcement looms
Sydney, August 13
Facebook and Instagram owner Meta said on Thursday it had taken down more than 750,000 accounts it suspected were held by Australians aged under 16 since a world-first ban on teen accounts, and promised more action in the face of possible regulatory intervention.
The company said it had deactivated 462,000 suspect Instagram accounts and 294,000 suspect Facebook accounts from just before the Australian social media ban went live in December to June, up from 331,000 Instagram accounts and 173,000 Facebook accounts it said it had removed by January.
The company has said it wants to comply with a law it and other platforms have vocally opposed, just as Australia's internet regulator considers an enforcement lawsuit against platforms, including some that Meta owns, that it says have failed to take sufficient steps to comply with the law.
No other platforms have released compliance data that matches the date range given by Meta, but Australian government figures and multiple independent studies have shown more than eight in 10 under-16s were still on social media in the ban's first three months.
The Australian government proposed the landmark law, which came into force on 10th December, on concerns about social media's impact on the physical and mental health of children and young teens.
— ANI
Reader Comments
756,000 accounts removed but still 80% of teens are on social media? That shows how easy it is to bypass the system. Kids just lie about their age or use parents' accounts. The real solution is education, not just bans.
As a student myself, I think the under-16 ban is a bit extreme. Social media is how we connect with friends and learn new things. But I also see classmates wasting hours on reels and memes. Maybe age limits need to be there, but with proper digital literacy classes alongside it.
Typical corporate move - they oppose the law publicly but comply when regulators get serious. Meta knows how to play the game. But kudos to Australian government for pushing through. India needs similar rules, but our politicians are too busy with other stuff. 😅
It's a start, but deactivating accounts isn't enough. The platforms need proactive AI to detect underage users and also behavioral patterns. 80% still present shows the ban isn't effective. Parents have to be involved too - no app can replace good parenting.
I'm glad Australia is serious about this. In India, we see young kids getting influenced by nonsense trends and even dangerous challenges. Social media companies need to be held accountable. The data shows they can act when forced to. Hope India takes note.
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