Meta (META) has started contacting teenage users in Australia, warning them to download their account data before the social media ban on accounts for those younger than 16 years takes effect.
Australia will ban users under 16 years on multiple online platforms from December 10, including Meta’s Facebook and Instagram and TikTok (TIKTOK) (BDNCE), X, YouTube (GOOG) (GOOGL), Snapchat (SNAP), Reddit (RDDT) and Kick.
Meta contacted thousands of young account holders through SMS and email saying that users under the age limit will start to be denied access from December 4, and they may “save their contacts and memories” ahead of the ban and update their contact information “so we can get in touch and help them regain access once they turn 16.”
Meta (META) estimates 350,000 Australians on Instagram and 150,000 on Facebook aged between 13 and 15 years.
Users mistakenly flagged as under 16 may verify their age via Yoti Age Verification with a valid government ID or a “video selfie,” Meta said.