Australian Government Proposes Social Media Ban for Under 16-Year-Olds The Australian government has announced plans to introduce legislation banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms. Major companies have challenged the proposed law, citing concerns over its timeframe and composition. LinkedIn stands out by arguing that its platform is not appealing to minors.
Australian Government Proposes Social Media Ban for Under 16-Year-Olds
The Australian government has announced plans to introduce “world-leading” legislation to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms.
Companies Challenge Proposed Law
Major companies behind popular social media platforms, including Meta, Google, Snapchat-owner Snap Inc, and TikTok, have challenged the proposed law in submissions to lawmakers. These companies argue that the bill’s timeframe and current composition fail to provide an opportunity for adequate scrutiny.
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Meta stated that the current form of the legislation “will fail to achieve its goal of reducing the burden on parents to manage the safety of young people on social media.”
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Google and Instagram-parent Meta expressed concerns over the rushed passage of the bill, with Meta stating that it “ignores the evidence” presented by child safety and mental health experts.
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TikTok Australia raised significant concerns with the bill as proposed, stating that its “rushed passage poses a serious risk of further unintended consequences.”
LinkedIn Takes a Different Approach
In contrast to other tech firms, LinkedIn has adopted a different approach, arguing that its platform is not interesting or appealing to minors. The Microsoft-owned company stated that it removes child accounts when found and has a minimum age requirement of 16, making it impossible for children to access the site.
Expert Concerns
Experts have raised concerns about the bill’s timeframe and current composition, stating that it fails to provide an opportunity for adequate scrutiny. Carly Kind, Australia’s privacy commissioner, expressed concern about the “widespread privacy implications” of a social media ban, while human rights commissioner Lorraine Findlay called the one-day window for submissions “entirely inadequate.”
International Interest
The Australian government’s plans have sparked interest elsewhere, with some countries, including the UK, considering similar legislation. France has already introduced laws requiring social media platforms to block access to children under 15 without parental consent, but research indicates that almost half of users can circumvent this ban using a simple VPN.
Australian Government Aims to Introduce Legislation Before End of Parliamentary Year
The Australian government aims to introduce the legislation before the end of the parliamentary year. However, experts have stated that the bill’s timeframe and current composition fail to provide an opportunity for adequate scrutiny.
