Meta Tells Australian Kids to Download Data Before Social Media Ban

The California tech giant became the first company to take such action ahead of the ban for under 16s coming into force on Dec. 10.

Meta's logo, in this illustration created on Aug. 22, 2022. Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Meta said Nov. 19 it had begun warning thousands of young Australians to download their data from their Facebook, Instagram, and Threads accounts ahead of next month’s social media ban for users under 16.

The Australian government said earlier this month that the three Meta platforms, plus Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, and Kick, must take reasonable steps to exclude Australian account holders younger than 16, beginning Dec. 10.