Sydney (EFE).- Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, began notifying users under 16 in Australia on Thursday that their accounts will soon be deactivated, ahead of a new law that restricts social media access for children and teenagers.
“We will start sending notifications today, giving affected users 14 days’ notice before they lose access. They will be able to download their data and update their contact information so they can return when they turn 16,” Meta said in a statement to EFE.
The measure is set to take effect on Dec. 10 and will apply to Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Messenger, which is used only as a messaging service, will remain available, Meta representatives said.
“To comply with Australia’s minimum social media age law, users under 16 will begin losing access to Facebook, Instagram, and Threads next month,” the company added.
Other platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, and Kick, will implement similar restrictions. All accounts belonging to users under 16 will be deactivated or deleted on Dec. 10.
Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to AUD49.5 million (about $32 million).
Meta expressed its opposition to the law, saying it has “consistently warned about concerns” over the measure.
“Experts, young people, and many parents agree that a direct ban is not the solution, as it isolates teens from their digital and informational communities and is inconsistent across apps,” Meta said.
“There is a better way: legislation that empowers parents to approve app downloads… allowing families — not the government — to decide which apps teenagers can access,” the company suggested.
To address potential age verification errors, Meta said users who lose access by mistake can authenticate via a video “selfie” or an ID document using the third-party verification app Yoti.
Australia will become one of the first countries in the world to impose restrictions of this scope on Dec. 10, while other nations are considering similar measures to protect minors on social media. EFE
nc/lds
