Meta is moving early and texting Australian teenagers. That part is real.

To every parent, teacher and trusted adult — talk to your teens today. Not with fear, but with clarity.

Meta is texting Australian teenagers. That part is real.

They’ve begun sending messages via SMS, email and in-app notifications, warning young users they have just days left on Instagram, Facebook and Threads if they’re under 16. The law banning under-16s from these platforms officially starts on December 10, but Meta is moving early — accounts will begin disappearing from December 4.

This is a big, complex shift. But it’s also the perfect opportunity for scammers.

They know teens are confused. They know panic makes people click. I am fearful they may start sending fake messages that look exactly like Meta’s — urging young people to "download your data here", or "verify your age now" through links that aren’t safe.

So here’s what we need to tell our kids today — not with alarm bells, but with calm, informed authority: Never click through from a text claiming to be from an app. Not now. Not ever.

If a young person receives a message about the ban, tell them to go straight to the Instagram or Facebook app, or visit meta.com directly through a browser. That’s the only place they should be downloading data or verifying age. Not through a random SMS or email link, no matter how real it looks.

If a teen is wrongly flagged as under 16, Meta will ask them to verify their age using ID or a video selfie. That process is done securely within the app, and not through a shortcut or suspicious link. The technology behind it, Yoti, is trusted but only when accessed through the official platform you can see the results of the Age Assurance Trial here: https://ageassurance.com.au/report/

The key here is timing. Right now, we have a narrow window before confusion peaks and scams escalate. This is the moment to step in gently, confidently, and have the conversation.

Reassure your teen that they haven’t done anything wrong. Remind them that real warnings from Meta are coming via text but it is never safe to click through from an SMS EVER!

There’s no need for panic. But there is a need for precision.

If we wait, the risk grows. If we act now — clearly, calmly, together — we protect not just their accounts, but their confidence and safety online.

Talk to them today. Even if they roll their eyes. Even if they say they already know. Just open the door because digital scams don’t care how old you are.

But being prepared? That starts with us.

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eSafety Social Media Minimum Age Hub: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions-hub