Meta has accused the Australian government of rushing through its world-first social media ban for under-16s without properly considering evidence or the voices of young people. The legislation, passed by parliament on Thursday, imposes fines of up to $50 million on platforms that fail to comply.
Australian politicians who supported the ban argue it is necessary to protect teenagers from harmful content. However, critics have described the law as a '1970 solution for a 2024 problem', with human rights groups and mental health advocates warning it may marginalise young Australians.
A Meta spokesperson expressed concern over the rushed process, stating that the task now is to ensure productive consultation on rules to achieve a technically feasible outcome that does not place an onerous burden on parents and teens. Elon Musk, owner of X, criticised the ban as a 'backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians'.
Australian cabinet minister Murray Watt said social media companies should take the ban seriously, citing fines and social pressure as enforcement tools. The shadow communications minister, David Coleman, argued the benefits outweigh the risks, questioning what other generation has been exposed to as much damaging content.
The UK's technology secretary, Peter Kyle, has discussed the ban with Australian politicians and will closely follow its implementation, keeping all options open. France's education minister has expressed interest in adopting a similar ban, and a Swiss newspaper reported overwhelming support for such a measure in Switzerland.
In Australia, the human rights commission warned the law may infringe on young people's rights, while Suicide Prevention Australia said the government ran 'blindfolded into a brick wall'. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young called the ban 'boomers trying to tell young people how the internet should work'.
