Tech giant Meta has urged Australia to reconsider its social media ban for teenagers, arguing that the policy may not achieve its intended goals. The request comes as the company revealed it has already removed hundreds of thousands of underage accounts following the implementation of the new law.
Australia introduced the world-first ban on social media use for under-16s in December 2025. The legislation requires major platforms such as Meta, TikTok, and YouTube to prevent minors from holding accounts. Companies that fail to take reasonable steps to comply face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.
Meta stated that it removed more than 544,000 underage accounts within a week. This included 331,000 accounts on Instagram, 173,000 on Facebook, and 40,000 on Threads. While the company said it is committed to following the law, it called on the Australian government to work more closely with the tech industry.
According to Meta, blanket bans could isolate young people from online communities and push them toward less regulated platforms. The company believes a more effective solution would involve age verification at app stores, combined with parental approval before teenagers download social media apps.
Australian officials defended the law, stating that platforms already collect large amounts of user data and should use it to ensure compliance. However, Meta warned that early signs suggest the legislation may not improve online safety and could drive teens into unsafe digital spaces.
The debate highlights growing global concern over teen safety online and the challenge of balancing protection with access.
