Social media firms urge caution on early Australia under-16 ban data
Top social media platforms urged the Australian government not to place too much weight on early evidence showing that most children still use their products despite a landmark under-16 ban
Big tech companies have warned the Australian government against placing too much faith in early data showing most under-16s still use their social media platforms following a ban. Leaders from major platforms including Google, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok appeared before a Senate inquiry as lawmakers considered more stringent penalties and greater regulatory powers.
The hearing revealed a split between authorities and corporations over the effectiveness of the ban, which went into effect in December. While the eSafety Commissioner's March data suggested about 80% of minors were still active on social media, the commissioner cautioned the data was "very early on" and called for caution against over-reliance.
The inquiry is discussing proposals to double penalties to A$99 million and expand regulators' investigative capabilities. YouTube's head of government relations noted the government's latest compliance data was also from March, highlighting the need for time to see progress. Companies stressed the difficulty in accurately determining underage users, with Meta pointing out the distinction between having an account and actively using a platform.
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- Social media firms urge caution on early Australia under-16 ban data channelnewsasia.com
