550,000 Accounts Vanished: Meta Enforces Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Meta has removed nearly 550,000 accounts to comply with the Meta Australian social media ban. Learn how this move impacts global regulation and the push for age verification.
Nearly 550,000 social media accounts just disappeared in Australia. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has taken a massive step to comply with the country's world-first age-restricted legislation.
Meta Enforces Australia's Social Media Ban
According to Reuters, Meta announced on January 12, 2026, that it removed approximately 550,000 accounts owned by users under the age of 16. This aggressive cleanup follows Australia's landmark decision to strictly regulate youth access to social platforms.
Pushing for a Global Verification Standard
Meta isn't just following orders; it's pushing back with a demand for an industry-wide age verification standard. The tech giant argues that verification should happen at the app store level rather than on individual platforms. Meanwhile, the ban remains highly controversial. Reddit has already filed a lawsuit against the ban, and critics warn it could isolate marginalized youth who rely on digital communities.
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