Meta Under Scrutiny Over Australia’s Social Media Teen Ban
Synopsis
The tech giant says it has deactivated more than 756,000 accounts as Australian lawmakers examine whether platforms are enforcing the landmark age restriction.
Meta is set to come under fresh scrutiny as its efforts to ban all teens under the age of 16 from its social media platforms in Australia face mounting challenges.
More than 756 000 Facebook and Instagram accounts allegedly controlled by Australians aged under 16 have been deleted by Meta Platforms Inc this year.
Meta has confirmed that 462 000 Instagram accounts and 294 000 Facebook accounts have been deleted from December 2025 to June 2026 as part of the company’s attempts to comply with new laws. It is currently being investigated by Australian authorities to determine whether action is required for the firm to take additional measures to ensure compliance with the law.
756,000 Accounts Removed Since December
According to reports, 756 000 accounts have been deleted since December. Australia’s proposed social media minimum age restrictions are set to enter on 10 December 2025, banning minors under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining an account on ‘government’ platforms.
They were enacted through changes to the Online Safety Act 2021 and contain compliance obligations for platforms and not for children or their parents, with penalties for platforms failing to meet their obligations.
Meta announced that its automated systems scan posts for users 16 years of age and older to check whether an account is likely to belong to a younger person. Additionally, the company has implemented measures to prevent banned Facebook users from quickly reopening their accounts.
This confirmation comes against the backdrop of increased overall industry enforcement and responses in relation to the proposed changes. In January, eSafety reported having notified and assisted in the removal of about 4.7 million accounts of users under the age of 16 detected on social media sites in Australia in the first half of December 2025.
Compliance Remains Under Examination
Accordingly, the Head of the Department of Education is obliged to take all actions necessary to ensure that compliance is not undermined.
The account deletions do not appear to have answered concerns about enforcement. Despite the restrictions coming into force, reports suggested that, three months later, more than 80% of Australian minors still used social media.
The findings were based on a study conducted among more than 4 000 children and families, illustrating that, between the ages of 10 and 15, the percentage of children with social media accounts decreased from 52% to 42% after the commencement of the restrictions.
These restrictions create enforceable obligations for Australian technology companies as well as foreign technology firms with a presence within the country. Additionally, Australia’s legislative framework has been considered as a potential blueprint by policymakers in other countries considering similar measures for the protection of digital wellbeing.
Meta’s Australian probe has been set against the backdrop of a major international enterprise. In Q2 2026, the company reported revenues of US$60.80 billion, and net income of US$15.85 billion, up 28% year-over-year (YoY). Its Family of Apps had an average of 3.60 billion daily active users as of June.
Source: Capital Brief
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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