Meta has deployed AI‑driven tools to identify and delete over 750,000 under‑16 accounts on Facebook and Instagram in Australia, as part of the country’s new social‑media ban.
Meta has turned to artificial‑intelligence tools to enforce Australia’s new ban on under‑16 users, deleting more than 750,000 teen accounts from Facebook and Instagram in a single sweep.
AI‑powered detection in practice
The company says its systems scan user‑generated signals – such as birth‑date entries, profile photos and activity patterns – to flag accounts that appear to belong to minors. Once identified, the accounts are automatically removed unless the user can prove they are over the age limit.
Why Australia tightened the rules
Australia introduced legislation earlier this year that prohibits social‑media platforms from allowing children under 16 to create accounts without parental consent. The law also mandates that platforms delete existing under‑age accounts within a reasonable timeframe.
Meta’s response and next steps
Meta confirmed that the AI‑driven purge is part of its broader compliance effort and that it will continue to refine the technology to reduce false positives. The company also urged parents to monitor their children’s online activity and offered resources for account recovery if a mistake occurs.
- Implement AI models that assess age‑related cues
- Cross‑check flagged accounts against user‑provided birth dates
- Provide a verification pathway for mistakenly removed accounts
We are committed to protecting young Australians and complying with the new legal framework, while also ensuring a safe online environment for all users.
The rollout has sparked debate among privacy advocates, who warn that automated age detection could misclassify users and raise concerns about data handling. Critics also note that the sheer scale of deletions underscores the challenge platforms face in policing global user bases.
Meta’s actions in Australia may set a precedent for other jurisdictions considering similar age‑verification mandates, prompting further scrutiny of AI‑based moderation tools.
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