ANKARA

Meta has begun deleting the accounts of Australian users under the age of 16 from Instagram, Facebook and Threads, just days before the country’s new teen social media law goes into effect on Dec. 10, media reports said on Wednesday.

The company had notified users aged 13 to 15 that their accounts would be deactivated starting Dec. 4, ahead of what is considered the world’s first nationwide underage social media ban, according to the BBC.

The law mandates that social media platforms take “reasonable steps” to prevent children under 16 from having accounts.

Failure to comply could result in fines of up to $49.5 million ($33 million).

According to Meta, an estimated 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram accounts will be impacted.

Since Threads is accessed via Instagram, those accounts will also be affected.

The BBC quoted a Meta spokesperson as saying that “compliance with the law will be an ongoing and multi-layered process,” while also advocating for “a more effective, standardized, and privacy-preserving approach.”

Meta suggested the government should require app stores to verify user age at download and obtain parental approval for under-16s, rather than pushing verification to individual platforms.

Users flagged as underage will have the chance to download and save their content before accounts are shut down.

Those who believe they’ve been wrongly identified can request a review by submitting a video selfie or government ID.

Australia’s Communications Minister Anika Wells said the law aims to protect “Generation Alpha” from social media harms, noting that “teething problems” are expected in the early days.

Other platforms affected by the ban include YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, US social media platform X, Kick and Twitch.

Wells said she is also monitoring apps like Lemon8 and Yope for potential migration.

Lemon8 has pledged to exclude under-16s, while Yope said it functions as a private messenger and does not fall under the definition of a social media platform.

Australia’s move is being watched by global leaders amid rising concerns over children’s exposure to harmful content online.

A government-commissioned study earlier this year found that 96% of children aged 10–15 used social media, and many had encountered disturbing material.