Meta Platforms criticized Australia’s new social media ban for individuals under 16 in a statement issued December 10, 2025. The company argues the law, which officially takes effect today, is counterproductive and potentially harmful.
Meta contends the regulation pushes younger users toward less-regulated platforms. These alternative platforms, the company notes, may feature weaker safety measures.
This criticism follows Meta’s proactive removal of accounts in the week prior to the ban’s implementation. The company removed approximately 500,000 accounts belonging to Australian teenagers under 16 from its platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.