Market Analysis

Google and Meta Call for More Time on Australia’s Social Media Ban for Kids

Amos Simanungkalit · 26 Nov 202419.6K Views

Google and Meta Platforms have called on the Australian government to delay a proposed bill that would ban most social media use for children under 16, citing the need for more time to assess its potential impact. The bill, which aims to impose some of the strictest social media controls for children globally, is scheduled to pass by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday. It was introduced last week with only one day for public submissions.

Both Google and Meta have argued that the government should wait for the results of an age-verification trial before proceeding with the bill. This system may include biometrics or government IDs to enforce age restrictions. Meta stated that without these trial results, neither the industry nor the public can fully understand the scale or effectiveness of the age verification requirements and their impact.

The proposed law would place the responsibility of age verification on social media platforms, rather than on parents or children, with companies facing fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for systemic breaches. While the opposition Liberal party is likely to support the bill, some independent lawmakers have criticized the rushed process, with a Senate committee due to report on Tuesday.

TikTok, owned by Bytedance, also voiced concerns, stating that the bill lacked clarity and was being pushed through without adequate consultation with experts, mental health organizations, social media platforms, and young people. The company emphasized the importance of thorough and thoughtful legislation to ensure the bill achieves its goals.

Elon Musk's X platform raised similar concerns, arguing that the bill could infringe on children's rights to freedom of expression and access to information. Musk criticized the Australian government, suggesting that the bill might be an attempt to control internet access in a covert manner.