Instagram Begins Shutting Down Australian Teen Accounts Ahead of National Under-16 Ban. Meta starts warning Australian users aged 13–15 that their Instagram, Facebook and Threads accounts will be deactivated from 4 December. The nationwide ban on under-16s using major social platforms comes into force on 10 December, covering TikTok, YouTube, X, Reddit and more. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the “world-leading” measure aims to “let kids be kids,” despite opposition from tech companies. Australia’s regulator estimates 150,000 affected Facebook users and 350,000 impacted Instagram users in the 13–15 age group. Teens will be unable to create new accounts and are being urged to download their posts, videos and messages before shutdowns begin. Young users can challenge the restriction by submitting a video selfie for facial age scanning or providing government-issued ID. Platforms that fail to block under-16s face penalties of up to A$50m, with Meta calling compliance an “ongoing, multi-layered process.” In parallel, Roblox introduces new protections, preventing under-16s from chatting with adult strangers and rolling out mandatory age checks.