LinkedIn’s Surprising Argument Against Australia’s Social Media Ban for Kids

Career-networking giant LinkedIn has taken an unexpected approach in the debate over Australia’s proposed legislation to ban children under 16 from social media. Their claim? The platform is simply too dull to attract kids!

What’s This All About?

Australia is gearing up to introduce groundbreaking legislation aimed at preventing kids under 16 from accessing social media platforms. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the move as a measure to protect children from online harm, reassuring parents who worry about their kids’ safety on the internet.

Popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram (owned by Meta), YouTube (owned by Google), and Snapchat have pushed back against the proposed law, highlighting its potential unintended consequences and questioning its practicality.

But LinkedIn’s submission to Australia’s Senate Committee took a refreshingly different approach:

“LinkedIn simply does not have content interesting and appealing to minors,” stated the Microsoft-owned company.

Why Is LinkedIn Making This Argument?

Unlike social platforms loaded with flashy videos, memes, and games, LinkedIn focuses on professional networking—hardly the kind of content kids are scrolling for after school.

Here’s what LinkedIn highlighted in its submission:

• Minimum Age Requirement: The platform requires users to be at least 16 years old.
• Child Account Removal: LinkedIn claims it actively removes accounts belonging to underage users.
• Cost of Compliance: Including LinkedIn in the legislation would unnecessarily add barriers and costs to its members in Australia.

Tech Giants Are Not Happy

While LinkedIn shrugged off the proposed law, other tech giants voiced their concerns:

• Meta (Instagram and Facebook): Argued the bill “ignores evidence” from child safety and mental health experts.
• Google (YouTube): Claimed they needed more time to assess the legislation.
• TikTok: Raised “significant concerns” and highlighted risks from rushed decision-making.
• Snapchat: Echoed similar frustrations, stating the bill burdens parents without addressing core issues.

Meanwhile, X (formerly Twitter) even questioned the bill’s legality.

What Experts Are Saying

The bill’s rushed timeline has left many questioning its practicality. Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind expressed concern over the privacy implications of the proposed law, while Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Findlay criticised the “inadequate” one-day response window given to organisations.

Despite these critiques, Australia is determined to implement the legislation by the year’s end. The UK and other nations are keeping a close eye, considering similar measures in their own jurisdictions.

How Will It Impact LinkedIn?

If LinkedIn succeeds in exempting itself, it won’t face the significant costs associated with implementing age verification technologies—costs that other platforms may struggle to avoid.

As other platforms brace for potential disruption, LinkedIn’s quiet confidence in its “boring for kids” approach might just save it a lot of hassle.