Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat express concerns over new laws aimed at preventing children and teens under 16 from accessing social media

Major social media platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat have voiced concerns about Australia’s new laws, which will ban children and teenagers under 16 from using their services. Passed in the Australian Senate late Thursday, these world-first laws are set to come into effect in 12 months, giving tech companies time to adjust to the sweeping changes.

Under the legislation, social media companies could face fines of up to $50 million if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under 16 from accessing their platforms. The law aims to address growing concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health, but its swift passage through parliament has raised questions, especially from the tech giants it will affect.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, was quick to release a statement expressing its concerns. While the company affirmed its respect for Australian laws, it criticised the fast-tracking of the legislation. Meta claimed the process had not allowed for proper consideration of the evidence linking social media use with mental health issues, and suggested that the voices of young people had not been sufficiently heard.

“We are 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 said in a statement. The company also pointed to a recent parliamentary committee report that questioned the direct connection between social media and mental health harm, a point that was seemingly overlooked in the Senate’s decision to pass the bill.

According to Meta, the rushed nature of the bill suggests a lack of solid evidence supporting the proposed changes, calling into question whether the legislation was the result of a predetermined process. The company further urged for more productive consultation to ensure that any rules associated with the bill would be feasible for parents and teenagers, and for consistency in applying the rules across all social platforms popular with teens.

Meta also proposed a potential solution for verifying user age. They suggested that age verification could be conducted at the operating system or app store level, which would minimise the amount of sensitive personal information shared while also reducing the burden on parents and teens.

TikTok and Snapchat have similarly reacted to the new legislation, though they have yet to make detailed public statements. Both platforms are key players in the social media landscape and have significant teen user bases in Australia. Given the nature of the new laws, it is expected that these companies will also look for ways to ensure they comply while addressing the concerns raised by their young users.

The Australian government’s new laws aim to address mounting worries over the mental health risks associated with social media, with reports showing that excessive use of platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok has been linked to anxiety, depression, and other emotional difficulties among adolescents. The legislation also seeks to reduce the amount of personal data that companies collect from minors, ensuring that privacy is maintained.

Despite the concerns raised by Meta and other platforms, the government is standing firm on the issue. It has argued that the legislation is a necessary step in protecting young people from the potential harms of social media, especially as studies suggest that many children and teens are using social media platforms without sufficient safeguards in place.

While the law will not be enforced until next year, the response from tech companies will likely influence ongoing discussions about how to balance safety and privacy with the need for innovation in the digital space. As the deadline for compliance approaches, it remains to be seen how companies will adapt their platforms to meet the new regulations, and whether further amendments to the bill might be introduced to address the concerns raised.