You need to be at least 13 to have Facebook in most countries and states. Facebook's help centre lists the exceptions: 14 in South Korea, Quebec, Spain and Florida, and 16 in Australia.
Facebook's minimum age isn't the same everywhere, and the list of places with a higher bar has grown. Here's what Facebook's own help centre says, and what happens if an account is found to be under age.
Minimum age by region
| Where you live | Minimum age to use Facebook |
|---|---|
| Most countries and states | 13 |
| South Korea | 14 |
| Quebec, Canada | 14 |
| Spain | 14 |
| Florida, USA | 14 |
| Australia | 16 |
Florida is the one that surprises American parents: it's a US state with its own higher minimum, so a 13 year old in Florida isn't old enough even though a 13 year old in most other states is.
You may be asked to prove it
Facebook says that in some regions you may be required to confirm your age before you can use, or keep using, Facebook. It also says it asks for and uses age-related information for age verification and to help make sure its Terms of Service are followed. In practice, that means an account created with a fake birthday can be stopped later, not just at sign-up.
What happens to under-age accounts
Anyone can report an account they believe belongs to someone under the minimum age, or an account impersonating a child under it, using Facebook's reporting form. Facebook says it will delete the account if it can't verify that it's managed by someone who is old enough. So the outcome of a report is usually deletion unless an adult can show they run it.
Accounts for younger children
Facebook's report page makes one exception clear by implication: an account is only deleted if Facebook can't verify it's managed by someone who is old enough. That's the route for accounts that represent a child, such as a young performer's Page run by a parent. The adult has to be the one managing it, and be able to show that if asked. A child running their own profile under the minimum age doesn't fit, whatever the bio says.
Why the list keeps changing
Facebook ties its minimum age to where you live, and its list of exceptions is specific to named countries and states. That's why an older article might give 13 as the answer everywhere, while the help centre now names five exceptions. If you're reading this somewhere not on the list, 13 still applies, but it's worth a quick check of Facebook's help page if a new law comes in where you are, because the list is the source Facebook updates.
Facebook vs Instagram
Meta uses the same regional list for Instagram, so the age a child can join one is the age they can join the other. If you're setting up both for a teen, check the region once and apply it to both apps.
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Setting up Facebook for a teen, step by step
- Check the table for your region.
- Use the teen's real date of birth; Facebook may ask them to confirm it later.
- Go through privacy settings together before the account is used for anything public.
- Talk about friend requests from people they don't know, and how to report anything worrying.
Showing you're a real person
Once someone is old enough, Facebook offers ways to show an account is real to others. Its gray Facebook Verified badge shows there's a real person behind a profile, and Meta Verified involves confirming your identity. Neither changes the minimum age, but they're worth knowing about if impersonation becomes a worry.
My verdict
Thirteen is the usual answer, but not in Australia, Spain, South Korea, Quebec or Florida. Check before you sign up, and use the real birthday so you don't build an account that can be deleted later. For the practical side once the account exists, see why Facebook comments aren't loading and what to do when the Facebook app keeps crashing.
Frequently asked questions
Can a child under 13 have Facebook?
No. The usual minimum is 13, and it's 14 or 16 in some places.
What is the minimum age for Facebook in Australia?
16, according to Facebook's help centre.
Is the Facebook age limit 14 in Florida?
Yes. Facebook's help centre lists Florida, USA, with a minimum age of 14.
What happens if Facebook finds an under-age account?
If Facebook can't verify the account is managed by someone old enough, it deletes the account.
