Tech giants reject PM’s social media age limit, as grieving parents welcome law

The parents of teens who suicided after relentless bullying on social media have welcomed the federal government’s plan to raise the minimum age of users to 16. However tech titans who own the platforms have rejected the move.

Australia will clash with global tech titans over children’s online safety, with major social media platforms rejecting the federal government’s plan to raise the minimum age of users to 16.

After Anthony Albanese announced Labor would pursue the new limit, TikTok and Snapchat have both argued banning teens will push them into “dangerous” parts of the internet and mean they lose “valuable digital literacy skills”.

Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta has said it will “respect” any age limit, but the company wants responsibility for its implementation to be imposed on app stores instead.

With lobbying efforts from the big tech companies expected to intensify, it can be revealed Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Thursday wrote to the Prime Minister offering the Coalition’s support to “bring on a vote” to legislate the new age limit this year.

Mr Albanese has committed to introducing Labor’s proposal before parliament ends in November, and will take the details to a special meeting of national cabinet on Friday, seeking sign-off from states and territories.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to raising the minimum social media age to 16. Picture: Martin Ollman

The PM commended News Corp’s Let Them Be Kids campaign, which highlighted the negative mental and physical health impacts of social media on young children.

“Social media is doing harm to our kids and I’m calling time on it,” Mr Albanese said.

TikTok and Snap Inc on Thursday both referred to a statement by industry group DIGI that rejected the proposal.

“Banning teenagers from social media risks pushing them to dangerous, unregulated parts of the internet and fails to equip them with the valuable digital literacy skills they’ll need for the future,” DIGI managing director Sunita Bose said.

“There is more work to do to keep teenagers safe, but this needs to balance privacy, security, and choice.”

Meta head of safety, Antigone Davis, said the company respected any age limitations the government wanted to introduce, but argued a “deeper discussion” on implementation was “missing” in the current debate.

“We strongly believe parental approval and age verification at the operating system and app store level will provide a simple and effective solution, while also reducing the burden and privacy risk for parents and teens,” she said.

Meta is seeking to push age verification responsibilities onto app stores. Picture: Loic Venance/AFP

Peter Dutton wants to vote on the social media age this year. Picture: Martin Ollman

Emma Mason supports raising the social media minimum age. Picture: Richard Dobson

In a letter to the PM seen by News Corp, Mr Dutton has called on Labor to pass the bill this year, and requested the government drop any “exemptions” for platforms.

He also asked that Labor clearly define the expected standard for companies to avoid any “loopholes”.

The PM’s commitment was welcomed by Emma Mason, who’s daughter Matilda “Tilly” Rosewarne took her own life aged just 15 after she was subjected to bullying in person and online.

“This change cannot come soon enough,” she said.

“Not only those who have suffered from the suicide of a loved one, but also for children who live in daily battles played out across social media and the families who see this occurring and feel powerless to intervene.”

Wayne Holdsworth lost his son Mac in 2023. Picture: Jason Edwards

Wayne Holdsworth, founder of mental health program Smacktalk, lost his 17-year-old son Mac to suicide a year ago, and said the social media age limit proposal was a “historic time” for Australia.

“If this legislation had been implemented three years ago, we would have saved hundreds of Australian kids, including my boy Mac,” he said.

“Let’s not let perfection get in the way of a great idea, there will be challenges, but if it saves one life it is worth it.”

Eating Disorders Families Australia chief Jane Rowan said parents were “breathing a sigh of relief” after Mr Albanese’s announcement.

“Knowing that we have helped to remove one major barrier to eating disorder recovery is welcome news for the eating disorder carer community,” she said.

“We now await the detail of the legislation with interest and implore the government to ensure it is designed for maximum effectiveness without placing an additional burden on already stressed parents.”

Robb Evans, father of Liv, who died by suicide, age 15, exacerbated by social media. Picture: Martin Ollman

Melbourne father Robb Evans visited Canberra on Thursday with advocates delivering a petition calling for the minimum age rise.

Standing holding the urn of his 15-year-old daughter Liv who died last year, Mr Evans welcomed the government’s commitment.

Mr Evans said Liv didn’t have social media until she was 14 but it contributed to a “downward spiral” about her body image.

“These laws would have protected her … Liv can’t have a voice now, but I know that she wanted to achieve change for other young girls and people suffering from eating disorders.”

Originally published as Tech giants reject PM’s social media age limit, as grieving parents welcome law