LinkedIn Seeks Exemption from Australian Social Media Ban, Citing Lack of Appeal to Minors

The professional networking platform LinkedIn has informed Australian legislators that its content is not engaging enough for children to justify its inclusion in a suggested prohibition of social media access for individuals under 16 years of age. In a document submitted to an Australian senate committee, the Microsoft-owned corporation stated, “LinkedIn simply does not have content interesting and appealing to minors.” The Australian government has announced its intention to implement “world-leading” legislation aimed at preventing children from accessing social media platforms. However, several companies operating some of the most widely used platforms among young people—including Meta, Google, Snap Inc (owner of Snapchat), and TikTok—have contested the proposed law in their respective submissions to lawmakers. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that the objective of the proposed legislation is to mitigate the detrimental effects social media has on Australian children. He articulated that the initiative is intended for “the mums and dads” who, like himself, are “worried sick about the safety of our kids online.” Other nations are closely observing the progression of this legislation, with some, such as the UK, indicating a willingness to adopt similar measures. Australia’s Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee provided a single day for feedback on the bill, which seeks to modify the current Online Safety Act. The committee’s report to the Senate recommends the bill’s passage, contingent on the consideration of its suggestions, including involving young people in the implementation of the legislation. Nevertheless, in their submitted responses, major global technology corporations have articulated their objections to the proposed law. Google, the parent company of YouTube, and Meta, which owns Instagram, have both requested additional time to review the legislation. Meta asserted that the bill in its present state “will fail to achieve its goal of reducing the burden on parents to manage the safety of young people on social media.” Furthermore, Meta contended that it “ignores the evidence” provided by experts in child safety and mental health, a sentiment echoed by Snapchat in its submission. Concurrently, X (previously known as Twitter) raised questions regarding the legal validity of the bill’s provisions. TikTok Australia expressed “significant concerns” with the proposed legislation. Similar to other platforms commenting on the bill, TikTok stated that its effectiveness “hinges” on an ongoing age assurance trial evaluating technologies capable of accurately verifying user age. Ella Woods-Joyce, director of public policy for TikTok Australia and New Zealand, noted in the company’s submission that the bill’s “rushed passage poses a serious risk of further unintended consequences.” In contrast, LinkedIn has taken an alternative stance, contending in its submission that its platform holds no inherent appeal for children. The company stated that its minimum age requirement of 16 prevents minors from accessing it, and further noted that it deactivates child accounts upon discovery. Should LinkedIn successfully argue for its exclusion from the legislation, it could potentially circumvent the expenses and operational challenges associated with implementing supplementary age verification procedures on its platform. The company asserted, “Subjecting LinkedIn’s platform to regulation under the proposed legislation would create unnecessary barriers and costs for LinkedIn’s members in Australia to undertake age assurance.” The Australian government has indicated its desire to enact the legislation prior to the conclusion of the parliamentary year. However, experts have commented that the bill’s timeline and present structure do not allow for sufficient examination. Carly Kind, Australia’s privacy commissioner, expressed her apprehension regarding “the widespread privacy implications of a social media ban” in a LinkedIn post on Monday, following her appearance at a public Senate hearing. Human rights commissioner Lorraine Findlay characterized the single-day period for submitting responses to the legislation as “entirely inadequate” in a LinkedIn post published on Thursday. She remarked, “We need actual consultation, not just the appearance of it.” Nonetheless, the Australian government’s initiatives have garnered attention internationally. In the UK, technology secretary Peter Kyle informed the BBC this month that comparable legislation was “on the table.” France has already implemented laws mandating social media platforms to restrict access for children under 15 without parental consent, although studies suggest nearly half of users managed to bypass the prohibition using a basic VPN. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external sites. Details regarding its approach to external linking are available.