Instagram Removed My Account Under Australia's Under-16 Rule but I'm Over 16: How Do I Appeal?

Removed under Australia's under-16 rule but you're 16 or older? How to prove your age to Instagram, what eSafety can't do, and what to avoid.

Md Shariar Shanaz ShuvonMd Shariar Shanaz ShuvonFounder & CEO, AwareXone
3 min read
Cover card with an ID card and calendar, for appealing a wrong under-16 removal in Australia.
Short answer

If Instagram removed or locked your account under Australia's under-16 rule and you are 16 or older, use the age check Instagram offers in the app, such as a video selfie or ID through its verification partner. Do it from the original account, keep screenshots, and do not create a new account while the review is open.

Summary
  • Australia's minimum age law requires platforms to take reasonable steps to keep under-16s off social media.
  • Adults and over-16s can be caught by age estimation by mistake.
  • The fix is the platform's own age check, not a complaint to a regulator.
  • eSafety explains the rules but does not restore individual accounts.
  • A new account made while the old one is under review can look like evasion.
Table of contents5 sections
  1. 01Why was my account removed if I'm over 16?
  2. 02How do I appeal as someone who is 16 or older?
  3. 03Can eSafety or the TIO restore my account?
  4. 04What should I not do?
  5. 05When should I ask an expert before I act?

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.

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

Meta has said it uses signals such as reported age and activity patterns to find accounts it believes belong to under-16s in Australia, and then asks those users to confirm their age. If you missed the prompt, failed it, or the signals were wrong, the account can be locked or removed.

#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.

#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 to bypass age checks.

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

#When should I ask an expert before I act?

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 has solved 1,300+ cases and works only through official platform processes. Support is available 24 hours, every day. We never ask for your password, login codes or backup codes, and we never name our clients. Request a free case review or message us on WhatsApp. Malaysian cases are priced in MYR; other markets are quoted in USD after review.

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.

Who does the Australian under-16 rule apply to?
It applies to age-restricted social media platforms and their users in Australia, under the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act.
Will I lose my photos?
If you are under 16, platforms are expected to let you download your data. If you are over 16 and pass the check, the account should return.
How long does the age check take?
Instagram does not publish a fixed time. Keep your reference and check the app.
Can I use a VPN to avoid the rule?
No. It does not fix a locked account and can make the account look riskier.
Can AwareXone check my case before I appeal?
Yes. AwareXone offers a free case review. Send us what you see on screen and what you have already tried, and an expert will tell you whether to appeal, wait or take another route. We never ask for your password or codes.

Official sources

More free guides on the same kind of problem.