Global tech giant Meta has proposed that Australia adopt an app store-based approach to age verification for social media platforms. The company argues that current industry measures have limitations. This proposal comes as major political parties in Australia push for a ban on social media for children under 16 years old.
Under the plans supported by the Opposition, digital platforms would be required to verify the age of their users or face fines. However, during a parliamentary inquiry hearing on September 4, Meta Vice President and Global Head of Safety Antigone Davis suggested that implementing age verification at the app store on mobile devices would streamline the process.
Davis explained that with this solution, when a teenager wants to download an app, app stores would notify their parents who can then decide whether to approve the download. This eliminates the need for individuals of all ages to verify their age multiple times across multiple apps.
Furthermore, Davis emphasized that parents could oversee their children’s online activity and prevent them from accessing adult content or unwanted apps. She also mentioned that other social media companies such as Snap and TikTok support this approach, along with the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In response to questions about Meta’s responsibility for age verification, Davis denied any intention of shifting it entirely to the app store. She stated that a multi-layered approach is necessary because existing industry methods have limitations. While Meta has implemented some age assurance measures on its platform, they are not perfect.
Davis cited examples such as asking for unnecessary personal information or using an inaccurate age estimation classifier based on user input rather than verified data. Despite investing in AI age estimation tools, she acknowledged that further improvement is needed.
A recent survey conducted by the University of Sydney revealed that although many Australians support more effective age restrictions on social media platforms, they doubt the effectiveness of current age verification methods. Concerns were raised about children circumventing these measures using VPNs and potential data breaches associated with collecting personal information for verification purposes.
Meta’s proposal aims to simplify and enhance age verification processes while addressing concerns raised by both parents and teenagers regarding online safety and privacy protection.