Instagram warns Australian teens ahead of social media ban

AUSTRALIAN teenagers received Instagram notifications on Wednesday (December 3) warning them about the upcoming social media ban for users under 16.

AI Brief

Meta warns Instagram users under 16 in Australia that accounts will be deactivated due to a new law effective Dec 10.
Users can verify age or download their data before the shutdown begins on Dec 4.
The law aims to ban social media access for minors under 16 nationwide.

A Reuters-managed Instagram account, with a listed age of 14, received the notification which has been sent out in batches over the past two weeks to users the Meta-owned social media service believes to be under 16.

“Due to laws in Australia, soon people under 16 will no longer be able to use social media” the message read.

Users receiving the notification are then given the option to verify that they are over 16, or to download their personal data before their account is deactivated.

Meta will start deactivating impacted accounts from Thursday (December 4), the company said. The law enacting the ban will take effect from December 10.