About 550,000 accounts were blocked by Meta during the first days of Australia's landmark social media ban for kids. In December, a new law began requiring that the world's most popular social media sites - including Instagram and Facebook - stop Australians aged under 16 from having accounts on their platforms. The ban, which is being watched closely around the world, was justified by campaigners and the government as necessary to protect children from harmful content and algorithms.
Companies including Meta have said they agree more is needed to keep young people safe online. However, they continue to argue for other measures, with some experts raising similar concerns. We call on the Australian government to engage with industry constructively to find a better way forward, such as incentivizing all of industry to raise the standard in providing safe, privacy-preserving, age-appropriate experiences online, instead of blanket bans, Meta said in a blog update.
The company reported that it blocked 330,639 accounts on Instagram, 173,497 on Facebook, and 39,916 on Threads during the first week of compliance with the new law. They again put the argument that age verification should happen at an app store level - a solution they suggest would lessen the burden of compliance on both regulators and apps themselves, advocating for parental approval exemptions.
The Australian social media restriction stands out because it is the first to impose a strict age limit without allowing any parental exemptions, setting a precedent that is being scrutinized globally. This policy has garnered support from many parents but has been met with criticism from experts warning that children could bypass these regulations easily, leading them to even more unsafe online environments.
Additionally, voices from the youth, particularly from marginalized communities, express how the ban could isolate them from vital social connections needed for their development and navigate contemporary life.)
Companies including Meta have said they agree more is needed to keep young people safe online. However, they continue to argue for other measures, with some experts raising similar concerns. We call on the Australian government to engage with industry constructively to find a better way forward, such as incentivizing all of industry to raise the standard in providing safe, privacy-preserving, age-appropriate experiences online, instead of blanket bans, Meta said in a blog update.
The company reported that it blocked 330,639 accounts on Instagram, 173,497 on Facebook, and 39,916 on Threads during the first week of compliance with the new law. They again put the argument that age verification should happen at an app store level - a solution they suggest would lessen the burden of compliance on both regulators and apps themselves, advocating for parental approval exemptions.
The Australian social media restriction stands out because it is the first to impose a strict age limit without allowing any parental exemptions, setting a precedent that is being scrutinized globally. This policy has garnered support from many parents but has been met with criticism from experts warning that children could bypass these regulations easily, leading them to even more unsafe online environments.
Additionally, voices from the youth, particularly from marginalized communities, express how the ban could isolate them from vital social connections needed for their development and navigate contemporary life.)
