Meta says it shut down 750,000 under-16 accounts in Australia

Published Aug 13, 05:54 AM UTC

Meta announced it has shut down 750,000 accounts belonging to users under 16 years old in Australia, as part of enforcement of new regulations that took effect in December. The rules mandate that platforms like Meta and TikTok prohibit those under 16 from holding accounts or face penalties. However, observers are monitoring whether the measures are effective, as many Australian children have reportedly found workarounds to bypass the restrictions. The article, published by The Business Times on August 13, 2026, highlights ongoing challenges in enforcing age-based social media bans.