Meta removed over 500,000 accounts due to the ban on social networks for children

Meta Platforms has decided to delete 550,000 accounts on the platforms Instagram, Facebook, and Threads just a few days after the new law in Australia came into effect, which prohibits access to social networks for users under 16 years old. This large-scale deactivation was prompted by the introduction of age restrictions requiring technology companies to remove profiles of minors to avoid significant fines. This information was published in The Guardian.

According to the source, from December 4 to December 11, 2025, Meta removed approximately 330,639 accounts on Instagram, 173,497 on Facebook, and 39,916 on Threads that met the age restriction criteria.
Despite complying with the new legislation, Meta expressed concerns about the difficulties in accurately determining users' ages and called for closer cooperation with regulatory authorities.
The new Australian law has become one of the strictest in the world regarding age restrictions for social media users and is sparking active discussions about its effectiveness and impact on the digital environment for teenagers.

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