Meta Blocks Under-16 Account Creation in Australia, Affecting Instagram, Facebook, and Threads Users

TLDRs;

• Meta begins removing Australian users under 16 from Instagram, Facebook, and Threads starting December 4.
• Around 500,000 accounts are impacted, representing roughly 3% of local Instagram and Facebook users.
• New law enforces strict age checks, with fines up to AUD 49.5 million for non-compliance.
• Age verification vendors see increased demand as social media platforms adjust to legal requirements.

Meta has announced that it will start deactivating accounts of Australian users under 16 on Facebook and Instagram ahead of a new law coming into effect on December 10, 2025. Threads users are also affected, as the app requires an Instagram account to sign in.

The move is expected to impact approximately 500,000 accounts, according to estimates from the eSafety Commissioner, Australia’s national online safety regulator.

Starting December 4, 2025, Meta will also prevent users under 16 from creating new accounts across its platforms. The company has notified users it believes are aged 13 to 15, offering options to appeal if they were wrongly flagged. Affected users can update their contact details to be notified when they turn 16, download their data, or delete their accounts.

Significant Numbers in Australia’s Social Media Landscape

The 500,000 underage accounts represent about 2.8% of Facebook’s 17.7 million ad-reachable users and 3.3% of Instagram’s 15.2 million users in Australia. Despite the reduction, Meta’s ad reach in the country remains substantial, with Facebook reaching over 65% of the population and Instagram 56%.

https://twitter.com/France24_en/status/1996411416304144500/photo/1

This regulatory change highlights the challenge of balancing compliance with maintaining user engagement. By proactively implementing these changes, Meta aims to avoid potential penalties while testing the effectiveness of its age verification processes.

Legal Pressure Spurs Age Verification Measures

Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under 16 from creating accounts. Companies face fines up to AUD 49.5 million for systemic violations.

While the law allows a 12-month window for implementing these systems, the definition of “reasonable steps” remains somewhat ambiguous.As a result, Meta has adopted a hybrid approach using multiple age assurance methods. Users may be asked to provide additional verification if there is doubt about their age.

This could include combining behavioral signals, document verification, or biometric checks. Minors themselves face no penalties, placing full responsibility on social media providers to ensure compliance.

Age Verification Vendors See Growing Demand

The stricter regulations have created a market opportunity for age verification technology vendors. Australia’s Age Assurance Technology Trial cleared 21 verification providers, including Yoti and iProov, who offer privacy-compliant digital identity solutions.

Age estimation providers, which use algorithms to approximate a user’s age, have also gained recognition, though false rejections remain higher for younger teens.

These vendors offer hybrid systems to balance accuracy, cost, and user experience. With similar regulations expected in other countries, social media platforms globally may increasingly rely on these technologies.

TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube are also within the scope of Australia’s rules, suggesting that the demand for robust age assurance tools will continue to grow.

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