Families in Australia face a December ban on social media for children under 16, while users may also gain a choice over the material shown in their feeds under a separate government plan announced this month. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Apple Executive Chair Tim Cook had described the country’s work on social media as “world-leading” during a meeting at Apple Park in California.
Albanese spoke from Apple Park on Sunday, after meeting Cook. The prime minister said: “Tim Cook gave us a lot of time this morning. He regards the work that we've done on social media to be world-leading”.
The meeting brings one of the world’s largest technology companies into a policy discussion in which Australia has moved quickly on child safety and users’ control over online feeds. Albanese’s account of Cook’s comments indicates support for Australia’s approach, although the details of any formal Apple position on social media regulation were not set out.
Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December. The measure formed part of a wider push by the government to improve online safety.
This month, Australia announced a further plan that would allow social media users to select the content they see in their feeds. The available information does not set out how those feed-selection controls would work or when they would be introduced.
Cook also used the meeting to point to Apple’s work on protections for younger users. He said he was grateful to share with Albanese “some of our newest innovations, including strong and intuitive controls to help keep kids safe online”.
Apple did not specify which innovations Cook was referring to. His comments focused on child safety features, while Albanese’s description of the discussion covered Australia’s broader social media measures.
The Australian approach is being considered alongside proposals elsewhere. The European Commission proposed a ban on social media for children under 13 this year. Its proposal uses a different age threshold from Australia’s December ban.
Cook is Apple’s Executive Chair after recently stepping down as chief executive, a role he held for 15 years. His meeting with Albanese took place at Apple Park, California, with the prime minister presenting the discussion as an exchange on online safety and Apple’s child-protection tools.
The meeting did not establish whether Cook’s remarks represent a formal Apple policy on similar rules outside Australia. Nor were further details given on the government’s planned feed controls or on how other major technology companies have responded to Australia’s measures.
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