Nigeria TV Info – International News

Australia to Deactivate Teen Social Media Accounts Ahead of Landmark Under-16 Ban

Australia is set to deactivate thousands of social media accounts belonging to younger teenagers as the country prepares to enforce a historic ban restricting social media access for anyone under the age of 16.

Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and Threads — has begun issuing warnings via text messages, emails and in-app notifications to users it believes are between 13 and 15 years old. According to the company, account deactivations will officially begin on 4 December, ahead of the law’s full enforcement on 10 December.

The new policy, described by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “world-leading,” aims to reduce online pressure, cyber-risks and mental-health burdens faced by young people, giving children more freedom to “just be kids.”

The ban extends beyond Meta platforms, covering TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit and other major social networks. Australia’s internet regulator estimates that the country currently has about 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 Instagram users aged 13 to 15, all of whom will be affected by the new law.

The sweeping measure has sparked global debate, with some praising the move as a long-needed step in digital child protection, while others warn about potential issues around enforcement and privacy.

Nigeria TV Info will continue to monitor developments as Australia implements this groundbreaking online safety reform.