<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Technology giant Meta today began locking out under-16 users of Instagram and Facebook in the first wave of Australia's social media ban.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The company has carried out age verification of hundreds of thousands of its users and identified about 500,000 accounts across Instagram and Facebook that will be shut down.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those users have already been notified, and they will be able to log back into their accounts after they turn 16.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-australia-youtube-agrees-to-adhere-new-laws/23d2b230-18c7-4deb-bb18-b6f444802176" rel="" target="_blank" title="YouTube finally agrees to adhere to new laws ahead of Australia's social media ban"><strong><span>YouTube finally agrees to adhere to new laws ahead of Australia's social media ban</span></strong></a><strong></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>All identified underage users are expected to be removed by Wednesday, December 10 when the law officially takes effect.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Meta platform Messenger is not impacted by the ban.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meta has already sent messages to affected users advising them to download and save their posts and private messages before they are deleted.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-australia-meta-begins-locking-out-children/f1c32ba4-ded4-48f5-b751-c41bdcdb8ecf" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Soon, you'll no longer be able to use Facebook and your profile won't be visible to you or others," reads the message.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They should also update their contact details so Meta can contact them when they turn 16.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-australia-what-happens-to-accounts-how-will-the-ban-be-enforced-explainer/3793666b-24a2-4a41-82dc-0b5c2adfacce" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>The responsibility of keeping under-16s off social media lies entirely with the apps. Here is how it will work</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meta says there is a "margin of error" in estimating the age of all Australian under-16 users and acknowledges there may be some older one mistakenly caught up in the ban.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government-commissioned Age Assurance Technology Trial, found there would be "natural error margins" in accurately defining which users are under 16.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If someone over 16 believes they mistakenly come under the ban, they can challenge it by establishing their age using a video selfie or government ID through the facial age verification service Yoti.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Any users changing their age from under 16 to over 16 must verify their age.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking ahead of today, Meta Australia managing director Will Easton said the ban was bringing "challenges", but said the company was committed to keeping young people safe online.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/social-media-ban-australia-full-list-of-sites-apps-banned/6291cce0-b2af-4d0d-a785-2b7a35859f43" target="_blank"><strong><span>Here are the platforms that will be included in the under-16s social media ban. But there's a caveat</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We share the government's goal of creating safer, age-appropriate online experiences, however blanket bans bring their own set of challenges.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have invested in tools and protections to help keep young people safe online, and we will continue to advocate for solutions that balance safety, privacy, and the positive connections young Australians find on our platforms."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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