• Meta is removing users under 16 from Instagram, Threads, and Facebook in Australia.
• The ban aims to shield minors from harmful online content and begins on December 10.
• Companies face hefty fines for failing to comply with the new law.
• Critics highlight potential drawbacks in isolating youth from crucial online connections.
• YouTube argues the ban may inadvertently make its platform "less safe" for minors.

Meta has initiated the process of removing users under the age of 16 from its platforms in Australia ahead of the country's unprecedented youth social media ban, set to take effect on December 10. An estimated 350,000 Australian Instagram users aged 13 to 15 are expected to be impacted by this policy. Meta announced that compliance with the new law will be an ongoing priority as they work to enforce it, including allowing young users to download their online histories before their accounts are deactivated, according to BBC and Bangkok Post.

In addition to Meta’s platforms, ten major online entities—including TikTok and YouTube—must adhere to the ban, with penalties for non-compliance reaching A$49.5 million (around US$33 million). Communication Minister Anika Wells has emphasized the legislation as a protective measure for minors against harmful content encountered via social media, asserting that this initiative will "make it easier for kids to chase a better version of themselves," as reported by Al Jazeera and Bangkok Post.

Meta added that it advocates for app stores to take greater responsibility in verifying the ages of users to enhance overall compliance with such regulations across platforms. By alleviating some of the age verification burden from individual social media channels, they argue that it could create a more age-appropriate online experience for teens, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

Some platforms, like Roblox and Pinterest, are currently exempt from the ban, but the list remains subject to change. Critics, including YouTube, have voiced concerns about the implications of the new law, suggesting it might ultimately make their services "less safe" for minors if those under 16 continue to access the site without proper account protection, as highlighted in detailed responses by YouTube and Communications Minister Wells, according to Bangkok Post and Al Jazeera.

The societal implications of this unique approach have sparked legal challenges, with the Digital Freedom Project contesting the law in the High Court of Australia. They view it as an infringement on freedom of speech, positing that there may be more effective ways to promote online safety for adolescents without mandating such sweeping bans, as detailed by BBC and Al Jazeera.