Meta deletes 540,000 accounts in Australia to enforce the ban on minors law
In a move reflecting its immediate compliance with strict digital legislation, Meta announced the deactivation of over half a million accounts in Australia as a proactive and enforcement measure against the law prohibiting the use of social media by those under the age of sixteen. This action underscores the seriousness with which the new law, which imposes unprecedented global restrictions on tech giants, is being addressed.
Details of deleted accounts
In an official statement, the company revealed that between December 4th and 11th, it deleted a total of 544,052 accounts believed to belong to users under the age limit (under 16). This digital cleanup campaign targeted the company's main platforms, with 330,639 accounts deleted from Instagram, 173,497 from Facebook, and 39,916 from Threads.
Context of the new Australian law
This controversial law came into effect on December 10, placing Australia at the forefront of countries taking radical measures to regulate children's digital space. Under this legislation, minors under the age of 16 are prohibited from having accounts on 10 major social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, and Meta. The law is notable for its strictness, placing full responsibility on tech giants rather than parents or children, requiring them to develop effective age verification technologies.
Motives behind the decision and its social dimensions
This legislative move followed extensive public and political debates in Australia about the impact of social media on the mental health of teenagers. Lawmakers based their decision on studies and reports indicating a strong link between excessive use of these platforms and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying among young people. The Australian government aims, through this ban, to give children a "normal childhood" free from the pressures of the virtual world and the addictive algorithms of digital technology.
Global impacts and deterrent sanctions
The Australian experiment is now seen as a global pilot program, with governments in Europe, the United States, and Canada closely monitoring the app's results. Australian authorities have given affected companies a year to implement strict age verification systems, threatening severe financial penalties for violations, with fines reaching up to AU$49.5 million (approximately US$33 million). This measure presents tech companies with a significant technical and ethical challenge: balancing compliance with local laws with maintaining their user base, potentially reshaping the global social media landscape in the coming years.
