Instagram Removed Me Under Australia's Under-16 Rule: Appeal

Australia's social media minimum age rules mean Instagram must take reasonable steps to stop under-16s having accounts. Age estimation is imperfect, so some people who are 16 or older have been locked out or removed. This guide covers how to show Instagram your real age and what not to do while you wait.

Last checked: 29 October 2026 against the sources listed at the end of this guide.

Keep a dated note of every screen you see, including the exact wording shown, before you press continue on any form. Keep a dated note of every screen you see, including the exact wording shown, before you press continue on any form. Keep a dated note of every screen you see, including the exact wording shown, before you press continue on any form.

#Why was my account removed if I'm over 16?

Meta may ask users it believes are under 16 in Australia to confirm their age. If you missed the prompt, failed it, or the signals were wrong, the account can be locked or removed.

Australia's eSafety Commissioner says that from 10 December 2025, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and other named platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts. WhatsApp and Messenger are among services eSafety considers outside the restrictions. eSafety says some people 16 or older may have accounts removed or deactivated in error or because of false reports, and that platforms are expected to have processes to correct errors and clear instructions on how to request a review.

Instagram's About disabled accounts page notes that in certain regions, Instagram may disable accounts for people in a specific age range in line with local laws and regulations. If you think it was a mistake, log in and follow the on-screen instructions to request a review.

#How do I appeal as someone who is 16 or older?

1. Open Instagram and log in to the affected account. If you see an age check, follow it rather than closing it.
2. Choose the verification method offered, usually a video selfie for age estimation or an ID document through Meta's verification partner.
3. Use good light, a plain background and a current, readable ID if you choose ID.
4. Screenshot each step and any reference number.
5. Wait for the decision before trying again. Repeated attempts can slow things down.

Meta's How video selfie age verification works page says you may be asked to verify your age by taking a video selfie or uploading your ID. With a video selfie, Meta shares an image from it with a vendor whose technology only estimates age and can't identify specific people, and Meta deletes the image within 30 days of the age being estimated. Make sure your whole face is visible, with good light and nothing like a mask or hat covering it. Verification can take up to 20 minutes, and you'll get a notification with the result.

#Can eSafety or the TIO restore my account?

eSafety publishes guidance on the age restrictions and expects platforms to offer ways to challenge decisions, but it does not decide individual account appeals. The route to get your account back is through Instagram itself. Our age verification appeal guide covers the check in more detail.

#What should I not do?

• Do not create a new account while the old one is under review.
• Do not use someone else's ID or face for the check.
• Do not pay anyone who claims they can skip age checks.

Related guides: UK Online Safety Act: Why Is Instagram Asking Me to Verify My Age?.

eSafety says platforms can't force Australians to use government ID to prove their age: they may offer it, but must also offer a reasonable alternative. It warns about scams, such as messages threatening to delete your account, fake age checks asking for your password or ID, and anyone offering a fake ID or an age-verified account. There are no penalties for under-16s or their parents, so any request to pay a fine is a scam. eSafety also expects platforms to explain how under-16s can download their data.

#How do I keep the account safe while I sort this out?

• Never share a login code, password or backup code with anyone, including people who say they work for Meta, the police or a recovery service.
• Make sure the email address and phone number on the account are ones you still control, and remove any you do not recognise.
• Turn on two-factor authentication where the platform offers it, ideally with an authenticator app, and keep your backup codes somewhere offline.
• Log in only from the official app or by typing the address yourself, not from links in messages, comments or ads.
• Keep screenshots of every notice, email and step you take, with dates, in case you need them for a review or a report.
• Make one careful attempt at each official step rather than many rushed ones, because repeated failed attempts can trigger extra checks.

#When It Is Safer to Get Expert Help

Ask for help before you appeal if the account matters to your income, your business or your memories, if you have already had one appeal rejected, or if you cannot tell whether the problem is a bug, a restriction or a hack. That is where most avoidable losses happen.

AwareXone is independent and not affiliated with Meta, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp or Threads. Recovery work is best-effort and the platform makes the final decision.