Meta started shutting down about 500,000 Facebook and Instagram accounts of Australian users under 16 on Thursday. This comes ahead of the new social media law effective December 10, which bans under-16 users from having accounts. Earlier, Meta warned users it would begin closing these accounts from December 4. The Australian eSafety commissioner reported 150,000 Facebook and 350,000 Instagram accounts belong to users aged 13 to 15. Meta will also block new account creation for under-16 users. A Meta spokesperson said, "While we are working hard to remove all users who we understand to be under the age of 16 by 10 December, compliance with the law will be an ongoing and multilayered process." The company added, "If you’re under 16, you can still preserve and download your digital history across Instagram, Threads, and Facebook." Users will be notified before turning 16 to regain access and have their content restored. The ban also affects Threads users, who must have an Instagram account. Australia's Communications Minister Anika Wells said, "if a child has a social media account on 10 December then that platform is breaking the law." She acknowledged the process will take time but stressed, "Thank you for trying this – do not back down!" Platforms face fines up to $49.5 million for non-compliance. The eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, will take a "graduated risk and outcomes-based approach to compliance and enforcement." Besides Meta’s platforms, TikTok, Snapchat, X, Reddit, Kick, Twitch, and YouTube must also comply by next week. All have agreed except X and Reddit, who were approached for comments.