Google, Meta advocate delay of Bill banning under-16 from social media

Australian, Oceanic —Tech giants Google and Meta have urged the Australian government to delay a proposed bill that would ban children under 16 from accessing most social media platforms.

According to the firms, the government should allow more time to assess the bill’s impact and await results from an age-verification trial.

The advocacy remain pertinent following the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese’s statement that the government aims to pass the legislation—one of the strictest globally on children’s social media use—by Thursday, the final day of the parliamentary year.

Introduced last week, the bill was open for public submissions for just one day, drawing criticism for its expedited timeline.

The proposed law would require social media companies, rather than parents or children, to enforce age-verification measures, potentially using biometrics or government-issued identification. Companies found in breach could face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).

Meta criticised the bill as “inconsistent and ineffective” without clear results from the age-verification trial.

Google urged for a measured approach to ensure Australians understand the implications of the legislation.

TikTok raised “significant concerns” over the lack of consultation with experts, social media platforms, mental health organisations, and young people.

“Novel policies must be drafted thoroughly to ensure their success,” the company stated.

Elon Musk’s X also opposed the bill, arguing it could infringe on children’s human rights, including their freedom of expression and access to information.

Musk, a vocal advocate for free speech, accused the government of using the bill as a backdoor to control internet access.

The opposition Liberal Party has signalled support for the bill, while some independent lawmakers have criticised the government for rushing its passage.

If passed into law,  the bill would place Australia at the forefront of regulating children’s online activity, and raised concern over the role of government in the digital spaces.