SYDNEY, Australia — Google and Facebook-owner Meta Platforms urged the Australian government on Tuesday to delay a bill that will ban most forms of social media for children under 16, saying more time is needed to assess its potential impact.
Google and Meta said in their submissions that the government should wait for the results of an age-verification trial before going ahead.
The age-verification system may include biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off.
“In its present form, the bill is inconsistent and ineffective.”The law would force social media platforms, and not parents or children, to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place.
ByteDance’s TikTok said the bill lacked clarity and that it had “significant concerns” with the government’s plan to pass the bill without detailed consultation with experts, social media platforms, mental health organizations and young people.
Persons:
Anthony Albanese’s, Meta, ” Meta, “, ByteDance’s TikTok, ” TikTok, Elon Musk’s
Organizations:
Google, Facebook, Meta, “, Liberal
Locations:
SYDNEY, Australia, U.S