{"id":11423,"date":"2026-01-11T21:17:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T21:17:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=11423"},"modified":"2026-01-11T21:17:29","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T21:17:29","slug":"australia-news-live-meta-blocks-nearly-550000-accounts-in-first-month-of-under-16s-social-media-ban-victorian-bushfires-expected-to-burn-for-weeks-australia-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/microvibenews.com\/?p=11423","title":{"rendered":"Australia news live: Meta blocks nearly 550,000 accounts in first month of under-16s social media ban; Victorian bushfires expected to burn for weeks | Australia news"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Meta removes access to nearly 550,000 accounts in first month of under-16s social media ban<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n

Meta said this morning it has removed access to almost 550,000 accounts belonging to people believed to be under 16, its first compliance report a month after the landmark social media ban law went into effect.<\/p>\n

That figure includes about 330,000 Instagram accounts, 173,000 Facebook accounts and nearly 40,000 on Threads. The company said compliance was a \u201cmulti-layered process that we will continue to refine\u201d.<\/p>\n

Meta said while it was taking all steps necessary to comply with the law, it continued to speak with the Australia government to \u201cfind a better way forward\u201d instead of \u201cblanket bans\u201d, adding:<\/p>\n

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<\/svg>As we\u2019ve stated previously, Meta is committed to meeting its compliance obligations and is taking the necessary steps to remain compliant with the law. That said, we call on the Australian government to engage with industry constructively to find a better way forward, such as incentivising all of industry to raise the standard in providing safe, privacy-preserving, age appropriate experiences online, instead of blanket bans.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Updated at\u00a0

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Key events<\/p>\n

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