Overview
- Australia’s law took effect on December 10 and threatens fines of up to AU$49.5 million if platforms fail to take reasonable steps to block under‑16s.
- Meta says it removed 331,000 Instagram, 173,000 Facebook and about 40,000 Threads accounts between December 4 and 11, totaling roughly 544,000–550,000 deactivations.
- The Albanese government is expected to release cross‑platform figures this week, with enforcement led by the eSafety Commission and exemptions for predominantly gaming, health or education services.
- Meta warns the ban is driving teens to less regulated services and calls for app‑store age verification with parental approval to avoid a “whack‑a‑mole” cycle and inconsistent checks.
- In the UK, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pledged an under‑16 ban using non‑government ID verification as the NASUWT teachers’ union urges Labour to bring forward legislation.