Meta has officially started warning Australian teenagers that their Facebook and Instagram accounts will be deactivated as the country prepares to enforce its new social media ban for users under 16. The regulation, which takes effect on December 10, will block teens from accessing their accounts until they reach the eligible age, marking one of the strictest digital age restrictions introduced worldwide.
Beginning December 4, Meta will stop anyone under 16 from creating new Facebook or Instagram accounts. For existing users aged 13 to 15, Meta will revoke access once the ban becomes active. Importantly, the company says teens will be able to regain access to their old accounts at age 16, with all data preserved exactly as they left it.
Affected users will receive notifications inside the apps explaining the upcoming shutdown. Teens will also be guided to download their data, update contact details for future access, or fully delete their accounts if they choose.
One of Meta’s biggest hurdles will be determining who is actually under the age of 16. Age verification on digital platforms has long been a complex issue, as many users simply misrepresent their age when signing up.
At the same time, accurate verification methods pose major privacy and security risks. Systems that require government IDs, selfies, or biometric data often become high-value targets for hackers. Even one small vulnerability can lead to widespread exposure of sensitive documents.
This concern isn’t hypothetical major identity verification services have already shown weaknesses. Last year, AU10TIX, a verification provider used by platforms like TikTok, Uber, and X, accidentally left administrative login credentials exposed online for over a year. That error resulted in sensitive user information being accessible to unauthorized parties.
With these risks in mind, Meta must implement an age-checking process that is both accurate and secure a balance that has proven extremely difficult across the industry.
Australia’s under-16 ban is one of the first national rules of its kind, aiming to reduce social media’s influence on younger users. Meta’s response and enforcement methods will likely set an international precedent.
As the deadline approaches, the company faces immense pressure to comply with the law without compromising user privacy. The coming weeks will reveal whether digital platforms can truly verify user ages safely or whether the industry must seek new solutions to protect young people online.
