Social media ban: Instagram and Facebook begin shutting down under-16 accounts in Australia as ban looms

<p>Ban due to take effect next week, but Meta has started deactivating accounts already</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/dec/03/social-media-ban-or-delay-australia-list-under-16-explainer-guide-when-what-apps-included-getting-banned">Australia social media ban explained: everything you need to know</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/dec/04/australia-news-live-senate-estimates-national-fiscal-outlook-labor-coalition-cost-of-living-victoria-public-service-cuts-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Facebook and Instagram began shutting down half a million accounts of users under 16 years old on Thursday as the deadline for Australia’s social media ban looms.</p><p>The under-16s social media ban is due to take effect from 10 December, but Meta alerted users last month that it would begin shutting down accounts from 4 December.</p><p><strong>Do you know more? Email josh.taylor@theguardian.com</strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/dec/04/social-media-ban-instagram-facebook-accounts-shutting-down-closing-teen-under-16-australia">Continue reading...</a>

Read the full article at: The Guardian World →