Now Reading: Meta removes 756,000 under-16 accounts in Australia after ban
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Meta removes 756,000 under-16 accounts in Australia after ban
Meta said on Thursday it had taken down more than 756,000 Instagram and Facebook accounts suspected to belong to Australians under 16, since the world-first social media ban took effect in December.…
The Story in Brief
Meta said on Thursday it had taken down more than 756,000 Instagram and Facebook accounts suspected to belong to Australians under 16, since the world-first social media ban took effect in December. The company deactivated 462,000 Instagram accounts and 294,000 Facebook accounts between December and June, using AI to detect clues like birthday posts or school mentions.
The Australian government passed the law citing concerns over children's mental and physical health. But government figures and independent studies show over 80% of under-16s still used social media in the ban's first three months, leading regulators to consider tougher penalties of up to A$99 million. Meta, TikTok, Google and Snapchat are set to face a parliamentary inquiry on Friday.
The Indian Opinion
Meta's numbers sound big until you remember that eight in ten under-16s are still on social media. The company is quick to publicise its deletions but slower to explain why the ban is so easy to bypass. The real test is Friday's parliamentary inquiry and the regulator's enforcement lawsuit. How many accounts stay deleted after Australia doubles the fine to A$99 million? That number, not today's press release, will tell us if Meta is serious or just ticking boxes.
Sources (3): timesnownews.com, thehindu.com, livemint.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
