Meta started booting Australian kids under 16 off Instagram, Facebook, and Threads before the country's new social media ban kicks in next month. Australia is forcing major platforms to block underage users or face fines of around 32 million dollars, and the company says teens can download their data before getting yeeted. Instagram alone has about 350,000 Australian users between 13 and 15 who will lose access.
The tech giant wants app stores to handle age verification instead of making teens prove their age across multiple platforms. YouTube complained that the ban makes young people less safe since they can still visit without accounts but lose safety filters, which the communications minister called a weird argument. Malaysia and New Zealand are apparently copying Australia's homework on this one.
The tech giant wants app stores to handle age verification instead of making teens prove their age across multiple platforms. YouTube complained that the ban makes young people less safe since they can still visit without accounts but lose safety filters, which the communications minister called a weird argument. Malaysia and New Zealand are apparently copying Australia's homework on this one.
