Social Media Giants Scramble as Australia Proposes Sweeping Ban on Minors’ Access.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the tech industry, the Australian government has proposed a controversial bill that would effectively ban most forms of social media for children under the age of 16.
However, the major players in the social media landscape, including Google, Facebook (Meta), TikTok, and even Elon Musk‘s X, are now pushing back, demanding more time to assess the potential impact of such a drastic measure.
The bill, which was presented in the Australian Parliament just last week, has sparked a flurry of activity from these tech giants, who are now lobbying the government to delay the implementation of the proposed legislation.
The companies argue that the timeline for public submissions has been too short, allowing little time for a thorough examination of the implications.
Google and Meta, in their respective submissions, have called for the Australian government to wait for the results of an age verification trial before moving forward with the ban.
The proposed age-verification system could potentially involve biometrics or government identification to enforce the social media cutoff for minors.
Meta, formerly known as Facebook, warned that “in the absence of such results, neither industry nor Australians will understand the nature or scale of age assurance required by the bill, nor the impact of such measures on Australians.”
TikTok, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, has also expressed concerns about the lack of clarity in the bill, stating that it raises “significant issues” with the government’s approach, citing the absence of detailed consultation with experts, social media companies, mental health organizations, and young people themselves.
Even Elon Musk, the outspoken CEO of X (formerly Twitter), has joined the chorus of opposition, arguing that the bill seems like a “backdoor way to control access to the internet.”
The proposed legislation would place the responsibility for implementing age-verification protections squarely on the shoulders of social media platforms, rather than on parents or children.
Failure to comply could result in hefty penalties of up to A$49.5 million (approximately $32 million) for repeated violations.
While the opposition Liberal party is expected to support the bill, some independent lawmakers have criticized the government for rushing the legislation through in just about a week, without sufficient time for thorough review and public input.
