Meta has revealed it shut down more than half a million accounts before and after Australia's world-first social media ban
In an update today, Meta says it banned 544,052 accounts belonging to users under the age of 16 between December 4 and December 11. Most of the accounts were on Instagram and Facebook
Meta senior account executive Kathleem Walsh used today's announcement to reiterate the company's stance against the ban.
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"The premise of the law, which prevents under 16 year-olds from holding a social media account so they aren't exposed to an 'algorithmic experience,' is false," she said.
"Platforms that allow teens to still use them in a logged-out state still use algorithms to determine content the user may be interested in - albeit in a less personalised way that can be appropriately tailored to a person's age."
Walsh identified Meta's major concerns with the ban, including teens being isolated from supportive online communities and a lack of interest in teens and parents upholding the ban.
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She said specific legislation change was the only way to ensure the ban was implemented consistently and to keep up with new platforms that may pop up as a consequence of the new laws.
"Legislation should require app stores to verify age and obtain parental approval before their teens under 16 can download an app," she said.
"This is the only way to guarantee consistent, industry-wide protections for young people, no matter which apps they use, and to avoid the whack-a-mole effect of catching up with new apps that teens will migrate to in order to circumvent the social media ban law."
Walsh said the company was committed to ensuring their platforms comply with the new regulations, and also called on the federal government to commit to an open dialogue with social media companies.
"We call on the Australian government to engage with industry constructively to find a better way forward, such as incentivising all of industry to raise the standard in providing safe, privacy-preserving, age-appropriate experiences online, instead of blanket bans," she said.
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