• Meta has blocked around 550,000 accounts of underage users in Australia under new legislation.
• The law mandates platforms to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services.
• Meta argues the ban might not effectively protect children and suggests alternative measures.

Meta Platforms has reported blocking almost 550,000 accounts belonging to Australian users believed to be under 16, in compliance with a new law that prohibits them from holding accounts on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. The law, effective from December 10, requires all major social media services, including Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, to take necessary actions or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (US$33 million). In its initial compliance efforts, Meta closed approximately 330,000 Instagram accounts, 173,000 Facebook accounts, and nearly 40,000 Threads accounts during the first week, according to Channel News Asia, BBC, and SCMP.

In response to the legislation, which has drawn global attention, Meta urged the Australian government to reconsider the approach, suggesting that more constructive engagement with the tech industry could yield better outcomes. The company emphasized the need for age verification at the app store level to prevent a "whack-a-mole" effect where underage users migrate to new apps not covered by the ban. Meta stated, "This is the only way to guarantee consistent, industry-wide protections for young people," highlighting concerns that the current blanket ban could lead to unintended consequences, according to Channel News Asia, BBC, and SCMP.

Despite these compliance measures, Meta raised alarms that the legislation is not achieving its primary objectives. They noted that initial impacts suggest it may not effectively enhance the safety and well-being of young Australians. The company has also founded the OpenAge Initiative, which aims to improve age verification standards through a non-profit effort. They warned that isolation from regulated online communities could drive youth toward less monitored apps and online environments, as per reports from Channel News Asia, BBC, and SCMP.