Two-week countdown on for young Facebook, Instagram users to download or delete their dataCaitlyn RintoulThe West AustralianThu, 20 November 2025 11:32AMCommentsCommentsEmail Caitlyn Rintoul
The countdown is on for young Australians to either download or delete their data from Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, with parent company Meta warning it would be shutting down accounts a week earlier that the social media ban deadline.
Meta announced on Thursday it would be firing the starting gun early by beginning deactivation from December 4 in a bid to axe all under-16 user accounts by December 10.
Users believed to be aged between 13 and 15 have begun being notified by text, email and in-app messages their current accounts will be deleted and under-16s will no longer be able to create new ones on Meta’s social media platforms.
The Federal Government has so far included nine platforms — Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, X, Kick and Reddit — in their world-first ban.
Young Meta users have been urged to download and save their posts, videos and messages before their accounts are shut down.
They’re also urged to update their contact details so they could be notified when they become eligible to open an account again.
If Meta’s evaluation of a user’s age on December 4 is wrong, they will be able to challenge it by taking a “video selfie” to prove their age using facial scan technology. They will also have the option to upload their ID.
Around 150,000 Facebook users and 350,000 teens on Instagram are believed to be in the 13-15 age bracket. according to Australia’s internet regulator.
Meta’s changes come just days after controversial gaming platform Roblox also announced it would be getting on the front-foot despite currently being exempt in the ban by restricting young users from their chat feature.
Apps like Roblox, Discord, WhatsApp and Meta’s Facebook Messenger aren’t included in the banned platform list because under the legislation apps solely used for gaming and messaging are exempt.
But eSafety Commissioner Julie-Inman Grant and Communications Minister Anika Wells have wanted that it’s a “dynamic list” and apps which add social media-like features — such as chats, forums, AI-bots and video or photo sharing — could be included at a later date.
Meta regional policy director Mia Garlick, who has fronted a Parliamentary Senate inquiry into the ban, said that Meta was working to comply with Australia’s law and urged families to have a conversation about saving their account data.
“Parents remain important partners in promoting the appropriate use of technology within their households as platforms such as ours work to comply with the law,” she said.
“For all our users aged 15 and under, we understand the importance of the treasured memories, connections, and content within your accounts.
“Look out for our official notifications and follow the instructions to safely preserve and download your digital history across Instagram, Threads, and Facebook.
“When you turn 16 and can access our apps again all your content will be available exactly as you left it.”
Meta isn’t the first platform to consider freezing account data for young people to access it again when they turn 16, with Snapchat also working to offer the same model.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who led the parliamentary inquiry into the ban, said it could be a tough few weeks as the changes take effect.
While she welcomed measures to make Australian children safer online, she criticised the government for still not legislating its long spoken about Digital Duty of Care.
Senator Hanson-Young labelled “big tech bros” as “vultures” and said the Federal Government should have targeted their “nasty algorithms” and profitability business model to “hit them where it hurts”.
“I can’t stand these big tech bros. I think they’re vultures but what this ban does is lets them off the hook, because it doesn’t force them to put in place the safety precautions,” she said.
“What I’m worried about is that these young people are either going to find a way around it or go to even more unsafe spaces.
“What I’m worried about is that the ban that comes in place next month is giving parents false hope, rather than making sure these big platforms have to provide safe spaces for everybody.”
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