The internet in Australia just got a lot quieter. In a massive enforcement sweep, tech giant Meta has disabled over 550,000 Instagram and Facebook accounts in the last 48 hours, signaling its compliance with the country’s controversial new law banning social media for children under 16.

The crackdown is the first major test of the "Social Media (Anti-Addiction) Act," which imposes hefty fines on platforms that fail to enforce age limits. Meta’s algorithms, retrained to detect age-related behavioral patterns, flagged the accounts as belonging to minors. The move has sparked outrage among Australian teens and parents, many of whom woke up to find their digital lives erased.

"Guilty Until Verified"

Unlike previous moderation efforts, this purge was algorithmic and ruthless. Users who cannot prove they are over 16 via government ID or biometric age estimation remain locked out. "My daughter lost five years of photos," complained a Sydney mother. "She is 17, but the AI decided she looked younger. The appeal process is a nightmare."

• The Tech Challenge: Meta’s aggressive stance is interpreted as a defensive maneuver to avoid liability. With fines set at AUD 10 million per breach, the company is prioritizing over-blocking. "We are operating in a hostile regulatory environment," a Meta spokesperson admitted. "We would rather ban a legitimate user than risk a lawsuit."
• The VPN Loophole: Digital literacy experts warn that the ban is already driving teens underground. Usage of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in Australia has spiked by 40% this week as savvy youths route their connections through Singapore or the US to bypass the geo-block.

A Global Experiment

The world is watching Canberra. The UK and France are considering similar legislation, and the success—or failure—of the Australian ban will likely shape global internet policy for the next decade. For now, half a million Australian teenagers are learning the hard way that on the internet, you are only a user until the law says you are a liability.