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New Law In Australia Bans Social Media For Those Under 16
Meta Platforms has shut down nearly 550,000 social media accounts belonging to users under 16 years old in order to comply with the new social media ban in effect in Australia since December 10.
The measure affects platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, marking a new chapter in global digital regulation by making the country the first democracy to impose such strict restrictions on children’s and adolescents’ access to social media.
Mass Account Termination On Meta Platforms
To meet the requirements of the new Australian legislation, Meta Platforms reported that it has deactivated approximately 330,000 Instagram accounts, 173,000 Facebook accounts, and about 40,000 Threads accounts.
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According to the company, the profiles belonged to users believed to be under 16 years of age.
The action was detailed in an official blog post by the company.
According to Meta, the process is part of an operational adjustment to the new rules imposed by the Australian government, which increase the responsibility of digital platforms regarding the age of their users.
What The Law Says About Social Media For Those Under 16
The legislation, which came into effect in early December, requires platforms such as Instagram, TikTok — from ByteDance — and Facebook to prevent access to those under 16 years old.
Noncompliance could result in fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, equivalent to about US$ 33 million.
With this, Australia has become the first democratic country to adopt such a stringent policy, motivated by growing concerns about the impacts of social media on the mental health, emotional development, and well-being of children and adolescents.
Australia Leads New Phase Of Digital Regulation
Public policy experts believe that Australia’s initiative may serve as a model for other countries.
Digital regulation has gained traction in the global debate, especially given the rise in cases related to anxiety, depression, and exposure to inappropriate content among youth.
Furthermore, Australian authorities argue that holding platforms accountable is essential for creating safer digital environments.
The legislation shifts the focus of responsibility from families to technology companies, which now have a legal duty to prevent unauthorized access.
Meta Criticizes The Ban But Complies With The Law
Despite complying with the new rule, Meta Platforms once again expressed its opposition to the social media ban for those under 16.
The company advocates for the implementation of standard age verification across the industry and the establishment of universal protections.
Migration To Alternative Apps Concerns The Company
In the official publication, Meta warned about the increase in downloads of alternative platforms after the law went into effect.
For the company, this could undermine public policy objectives.
“This prevents the ‘whack-a-mole’ effect of having to keep track of the new apps that teenagers will migrate to in order to circumvent the social media ban,” Meta said in the publication.
The assessment is that, without an integrated approach to digital regulation, teenagers may end up being exposed to even less safe environments.
Global Debate Is Expected To Intensify In The Coming Months
Meanwhile, governments in other countries are closely monitoring developments in Australia.
The decision involving those under 16 reignites discussions on digital freedom, platform responsibility, and the limits of state intervention in the online environment.
On the other hand, child protection entities argue that stricter measures are needed to mitigate the negative impacts of social media.
Impact Of The Decision Goes Beyond Australia
The action by Meta Platforms signals that major technology companies are already preparing for a more restrictive global scenario.
The trend is towards a social media ban, coupled with new digital regulation.
Thus, the Australian case transcends being just a local initiative and becomes a landmark in the future of digital governance on a global scale.
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