Meta says it has deactivated roughly 750,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts linked to young users in Australia, ahead of stricter enforcement of the country’s youth social media rules.
Multiple outlets report Meta took action on about 756,000 accounts, including hundreds of thousands of Instagram and Facebook accounts, based on internal identification of youth-linked profiles. Australia’s online safety regulator had previously reported that early enforcement of a ban for those under 16 produced only a marginal reduction in underage users during the first three months, and government figures and independent studies cited by outlets suggest most under-16s were still on social media in that period. The overall coverage reflects the same enforcement timeline but focuses on different angles: Meta’s scale of takedowns versus ongoing questions about whether the ban is reducing underage participation quickly.
Channel NewsAsia adds that the Australian government’s landmark law took effect on Dec 10, driven by concerns about social media’s potential effects on the physical and mental health of children and young teens.
