LinkedIn claims it is too dull for kids amid social media ban discussion
- The Australian government is proposing legislation that would ban social media access for children under 16 years old.
- LinkedIn stated that it is not interesting enough for minors, advocating for its exclusion from the proposed ban.
- Discussions surrounding this legislation may influence similar actions in other countries, highlighting the global interest in children's online safety.
In Australia, legislation is being proposed that would limit access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16. LinkedIn, a professional networking site owned by Microsoft, submitted a statement to an Australian Senate committee, asserting that its platform is not appealing to younger users. The company emphasized that the content on its site is targeted towards adults and therefore does not warrant inclusion in the proposed ban. LinkedIn highlighted its minimum age requirement of 16 and noted that it actively removes child accounts when identified. This perspective contrasts sharply with responses from other major social media companies like Meta, Google, Snap Inc, and TikTok, which have expressed significant concerns regarding the proposed legislation. These companies argued that the law could impose burdensome regulations and questioned the legitimacy of the proposed age verification methods involved in enforcing the ban. The Australian government aims to finalize this legislation before the end of the parliamentary year, as it seeks to address growing concerns from parents about the safety of children online. Notably, other countries, including the UK, are observing Australia’s legislative progress and may consider similar measures in the future. Privacy advocates in Australia have also weighed in on the implications of such a ban, suggesting that it may have broader ramifications for privacy rights and children's online safety.