Meta removes over 750,000 teen profiles as Australian ban enforcement looms
Meta announced it has deactivated more than 750,000 accounts it believes belong to Australians under 16, ahead of possible regulatory action.
Meta reported that it has taken down more than 750,000 accounts it suspects belong to Australians under the age of 16, with 462,000 Instagram and 294,000 Facebook profiles removed since the December rollout of the ban. Earlier in the year the company had removed 331,000 Instagram and 173,000 Facebook accounts, indicating a rapid increase in deletions. Meta said it employs artificial-intelligence tools to analyze contextual signals such as birthday posts and school-grade mentions, and it has blocked users from repeatedly creating new accounts after deletion.
The effort coincides with Australia’s internet regulator weighing an enforcement lawsuit and a parliamentary inquiry scheduled for August 14, which will hear from Meta, TikTok, Google, Snap and government officials. Australia’s legislation, which came into force on Dec 10, aims to protect children’s physical and mental health and carries penalties up to A$99 million for non-compliance.
Why it matters
The deletions show how a pioneering age-restriction law is forcing major platforms to act, with potential legal and financial consequences.
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