Meta blocks 550,000 accounts under new law
BBC••world
Key Points:
- Meta blocked approximately 550,000 accounts during the initial days of Australia's new law banning social media use for under-16s, including 330,639 on Instagram, 173,497 on Facebook, and 39,916 on Threads.
- The Australian law, the strictest globally, prohibits under-16s from having social media accounts without parental approval exemptions, aiming to protect children from harmful content and algorithms.
- Meta supports stronger online safety measures but advocates for age verification at the app store level and parental approval options to create consistent protections and reduce compliance burdens.
- While the ban is popular among parents and political leaders, experts and mental health advocates warn it may be easily circumvented and could isolate vulnerable youth, such as
