‘Lack of evidence underpinning the legislation’: Social media age limits pass despite doubts
A world-first bill has been passed, banning those under 16 from using social media, but detractors and tech giants alike are questioning whether it will be effective.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke at a press conference on Friday morning about a number of the 31 bills passed on Thursday, saying of the social media ban that “parents can have a different discussion with their young ones, a different discussion that will result in better outcomes and less harm for young Australians”.
“Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them. We’re making sure that mums and dads can have that different conversation today and in future days,” Albanese said.
“We’ve got your back, is our message to Australian parents.”
Zoe Kalar, founder and CEO of socal media agency WeAre8, told Mumbrella that while legislation on age limits is necessary, “the reality is that this will encourage a generation of young people to lie about their age and attempt to cheat the system”.
Kalar believes the critical issues are safety and eliminating the addictive algorithms.
“We need social technology to ensure young people and all people are protected from toxic content and abuse in all forms while shielding them from the algorithms that fuel anxiety and encourage endless scrolling,” Kalar said.
A Meta spokesperson told Mumbrella in a statement that the company is “concerned about the process which rushed the legislation through while failing to properly consider the evidence, what industry already does to ensure age-appropriate experiences, and the voices of young people”.
Meta points to the Parliament’s own committee’s findings, which said the “causal link with social media appears unclear,” with respect to the mental health of young Australians.
“Whereas this week the rushed Senate Committee report pronounced that social media caused harm,” the spokesperson said.
“This demonstrates the lack of evidence underpinning the legislation and suggests this was a predetermined process.”
Meta says “the task now turns to ensuring there is productive consultation on all rules associated with the Bill to ensure a technically feasible outcome that does not place an onerous burden on parents and teens and a commitment that rules will be consistently applied across all social apps used by teens”.
“One simple option is age verification at the operating system and app store level which reduces the burden and minimises the amount of sensitive information shared.”
Independent MP Kylea Tink described the bill as “a 1970 solution for a 2024 problem” on ABC Radio National on Friday morning.
“The most concerning thing about the legislation: it doesn’t do what it says it’s going to do,” Tink said.
“What we’ve got is… a piece of legislation that’s grabbing headlines, not only here but right around the world.
“But will it make any child under 16 safer on social media today? No. And in fact, it will create a high degree of anxiety amongst young Australians who are using their social media platforms to feel like they’re part of a community that may not be in their immediate circle.”
While the legislation was rushed through parliament this week, it won’t come into effect for at least 12 months.
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