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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Josh Taylor Technology reporter

Instagram and Facebook begin shutting down accounts as Australia’s under-16s social media ban looms

apps on an phone screen
Instagram and Facebook have started closing accounts ahead of Australia’s social media ban taking effect. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

Facebook and Instagram began shutting down half a million accounts of users under 16 years old on Thursday as the deadline for Australia’s social media ban looms.

The under-16s social media ban is due to take effect from 10 December, but Meta alerted users last month that it would begin shutting down accounts from 4 December.

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