"Meta has deactivated more than half a million accounts for teenagers across Facebook, Instagram and Threads as a result of Australia's under-16s social media ban, the company has announced. Just over one month since the ban came into effect, Meta announced on Monday that between 4 December, when the company began deactivating accounts, and 11 December, 544,052 accounts Meta believed to be held by users under 16 were deactivated. That included 330,639 on Instagram, 173,497 on Facebook and 39,916 on Threads."
"The 10 platforms the government announced were covered by the ban Twitch, Kick, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, Snap, X, TikTok and Reddit had all implemented age checks on 10 December 2025. After the ban was brought in, the office of the eSafety commissioner sent questions to the platforms asking how many accounts had been deactivated but eSafety has yet to release this data. eSafety was approached for comment."
More than 544,000 accounts believed to be held by users under 16 were deactivated by Meta between 4 and 11 December, including 330,639 on Instagram, 173,497 on Facebook and 39,916 on Threads. Meta said ongoing compliance will be multi-layered and will be refined, while expressing concerns about determining age online without an industry standard. Ten platforms covered by the ban implemented age checks on 10 December 2025. The eSafety commissioner sent questions to platforms about deactivations but has not yet released the data. Reports indicate some accounts evaded, reactivated or were recreated after the ban.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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