Meta removes teen accounts under Australian ban
Analysis based on 11 articles · First reported Aug 12, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026
Meta's proactive compliance may mitigate regulatory fines and reputational damage, but ongoing enforcement and potential lawsuits create uncertainty. The ban could reduce teen user engagement, affecting advertising revenue, while increased compliance costs may pressure margins.
Meta Platforms announced on August 13, 2026 that it had deactivated over 750,000 accounts suspected of belonging to Australians under 16 since the world-first social media ban took effect in December 2025. The company removed 462,000 Meta Platforms — Instagram and 294,000 Meta Platforms accounts between December and June, up from earlier figures. This comes as Australia's regulator, the Australia — Australian Communications and Media Authority, considers an enforcement lawsuit against platforms, including Meta, for alleged non-compliance. Australia has doubled the maximum penalty for non-compliance to A$99 million and granted the regulator greater discovery powers. Meta stated it is meeting its obligations and using AI to detect underage users. A parliamentary hearing is scheduled for August 14 with representatives from Meta, ByteDance — TikTok Shop, Alphabet Inc., and Snap. Despite Meta's actions, studies show over 80% of under-16s remained on social media in the first three months of the ban.
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