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Social Media Giants Lobby Against Australia's Under-16s Ban

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Australian government is set to announce the social media platforms that will be included in the under-16s ban, with the social services minister, Tanya Plibersek, stating that the government will not be "bullied out of taking action" by the tech companies. However, the social media giants are doing their best to argue that their services should be exempt from the legislation. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been showcasing its teen account settings, while YouTube has been lobbying hard, including hosting a safety event and sending a letter to the communications minister threatening a high court challenge. TikTok has been running ads about the educational benefits of its platform, while Snapchat has been focusing on user safety, partnering with law enforcement to create educational videos and ads advising parents and teens on how to spot grooming and sextortion.

Key Takeaways:

  • Meta is showcasing its teen account settings as a way to demonstrate its commitment to teen safety on its platform.
  • YouTube is lobbying hard to be exempt from the legislation, with its CEO sending a letter to the communications minister last year and hosting a safety event to showcase its efforts.
  • TikTok is running ads about the educational benefits of its platform, including ways that children can learn and engage with its content.
  • Snapchat has partnered with law enforcement to create educational videos and ads advising parents and teens on how to spot grooming and sextortion.
  • The social media companies are concerned that the government's ban will set a precedent and lead to a loss of revenue and jobs.
  • The government appears to be not for turning, with the prime minister stating that the ban is necessary to protect the mental health of young people.

Statistics:

  • 1.7 million #fishtok videos are helping Australian teens swap screen time for time outdoors (Source: TikTok ad)
  • 13 million cooking videos are entertaining and educating Australian teens (Source: TikTok ad)
  • 25% of Australian teens are visiting the STEM feed on TikTok every week (Source: TikTok ad)
  • 11-year-old Australian girl was sexually abused by someone she added on Snapchat (Source: Guardian Australia)
  • The Australian government's ban will come into effect in December (Source: The Australian government)

Sources:

  • TikTok ad
  • Guardian Australia
  • Meta announcement on new protections for teen accounts
  • YouTube safety event with Sarah Harris
  • Snap announcement on partnerhip with Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation
  • The Australian government
  • Guardian Australia

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