Global tech giants including Meta, TikTok and Google have heavily criticized Australian legislation to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, setting the stage for a policy fight as the government tries to push the bill through parliament this week.

An advocate for major social media platforms told an Australian Senate committee Monday that laws to ban children younger than 16 from the sites should be delayed until next year at least instead of being rushed through the Parliament this week.

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday social media firms would be required to destroy personal data used to verify ages of users, as part of what the government says is a world-leading ban on under-16s using the services.

The Australian government is threatening multimillion dollar fines for social companies that breach a proposed ban on children under 16 from using their service.

The legislation would impose fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) on platforms for systemic failures to prevent young children from holding accounts.

A law proposed in parliament would ban social media access for all children under the age of 16, placing stiff fines on platforms that don't comply. While I'll admit most social media does little more than turn our gray matter into Nickelodeon slime,

A proposed social media ban for children under the age of 16 has been criticised for being rushed as a parliamentary inquiry is due to hand down a report.

Social media sites are lobbying the Australian government to delay its proposed age limits for children younger than 16. View on euronews