Meta blocks 550,000 accounts under Australia's social media ban

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete January 12, 2026 at 01:45 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

In December, Australia implemented a social media ban for users under 16, prompting Meta to block approximately 550,000 accounts across its platforms in the first week. The law aims to protect children from harmful content, but Meta argues for alternative solutions like age verification at the app store level and parental approval exemptions. While popular with parents and considered by other governments, some experts worry about circumvention and potential migration to less safe online spaces. Australia's law is considered the strictest globally due to the higher age limit and lack of parental approval exemptions. Meta blocked 330,639 Instagram accounts, 173,497 Facebook accounts, and 39,916 Threads accounts.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

European Union 40% United States 40% Florida 40% Tories 40% Threads 50% Australian government 70% Instagram ×270% Facebook ×270% Meta ×490% Australia ×395%

Keywords

social media ban 100% australia 90% age verification 70% children 70% online safety 60% meta 60% harmful content 50% parental approval 50% social media 40%