Social media platforms removed 4.7 million accounts after Australia banned them for children

"WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- Social media companies have revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children in Australia since the country banned use of the platforms by those under 16, officials said. "We stared down everybody who said it couldn't be done, some of the most powerful and rich companies in the world and their supporters," communications minister Anika Wells told reporters on Friday. "Now Australian parents can be confident that their kids can have their childhoods back.""

"Under Australian law, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and Twitch face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33.2 million) if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove the accounts of Australian children younger than 16. Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are exempt. To verify age, platforms can either request copies of identification documents, use a third party to apply age estimation technology to an account holder's face, or make inferences from data already available such has how long an account has been held."

Social media platforms revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to Australian children following a ban on platform use by those under 16. Ten platforms reported the removals after the law, enacted in December, aimed to address harmful online environments for young people. Platforms face fines up to 49.5 million Australian dollars for failing to remove underage accounts, while messaging services are exempt. Age verification options include requesting identification, using third-party age-estimation technology on faces, or inferring age from existing account data. Approximately 2.5 million Australians are aged 8 to 15.

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