Labor to force Meta, TikTok to demonstrate enforcement of age restrictions
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The news: The world’s largest social media platforms including Meta and TikTok will be forced to show that they are enforcing age restrictions on its platforms as part of forthcoming reforms set to be introduced by the federal government.
The context: Communications Minister Michelle Rowland will announce the move in a speech at a social media summit hosted by the New South Wales and South Australia state governments on Friday, following a string of expert and industry panels in Sydney on Thursday.
Rowland, in prepared remarks seen by Capital Brief, will tell attendees on Friday that the government will likely amend the Online Safety Act to set minimum age requirements for social media companies, which will be overseen by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.
The aim, Rowland will say, is to create incentives for social media giants like Meta, TikTok and Snap to create age-appropriate versions of their apps. The government has yet to decide on which age the restrictions will kick in from but will give platforms one year to set up systems to comply.
The announcement follows a day of expert and industry panels at day one of the summit in Sydney on Thursday, where Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen addressed attendees along with other academics and regulators.
Social media platforms broadly argue that they already enforce age restrictions. Meta last month announced the introduction of its new Teen Accounts feature on Instagram, which promises to give users under the age of 18 a different experience of the photo-sharing app by default.
What they said: “The key principle of the Commonwealth’s legislative approach is to place the onus on platforms, not parents or young people,” Rowland will say.
“Penalties for users will not feature in our legislative design. Instead, it will be incumbent on the platforms to demonstrate they are taking reasonable steps to ensure fundamental protections are in place at the source. We will ensure eSafety can provide oversight and enforcement.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move was made in an effort to support parents and young people who the government believes are concerned about the harms of social media.
“We understand this is challenging. But we are prepared to do the hard work required to deliver a safer online experience for our teenagers. It is too important not to try,” Albanese said in a statement.
“Addressing online harms requires collaboration from all levels of government, along with industry and civil society. I look forward to working with premiers and chief ministers to advance this important work.”
The sources: Prime Minister's Office press release, Minister for Communications
