Australia's proposal to ban under-16s from social media platforms is "rushed", social media companies claimed Tuesday, expressing "serious concerns" about potential unintended consequences. The landmark legislation would force social media firms to prevent young teens from accessing their platforms or face fines of up to Aus$50 million (US$32.5 million). Platforms such as X, Snapchat, TikTok, and Meta have criticised the 24-hour time frame given for stakeholder comments, claiming a lack of consultation and inadequate details about how the legislation would work. X said in its submission that it had "serious concerns" the ban would have "a negative impact" on children, adding it breached their "rights to freedom of expression and access to information". The company added that the proposed law was "vague" and "highly problematic" and that there was "no evidence" that it would work. Australia is among the vanguard of nations trying to clean up social media, and the proposed age limit would be among the world's strictest measures aimed at children. The proposed laws, which were presented to parliament last week, would also include robust privacy provisions that require tech platforms to delete any age-verification information collected. The government is trying to approve the law this week, before parliament breaks for the rest of the year. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said in its submission the ban would "fail" in its current form because there was not enough consultation with stakeholders. "More time should be taken to get this bill right," it said. TikTok raised concerns over the privacy provisions -- including that they overlapped and contradicted other legislation -- and the limited time to consult stakeholders. Sign up to get our free daily email of the biggest stories! "Its rushed passage poses a serious risk of further unintended consequences," the company's submission said. Key details about how social media companies are expected to enforce the ban remain unclear. Some companies will be granted exemptions from the ban, such as YouTube, which teenagers may need to use for school work or other reasons. Once celebrated as a means of staying connected and informed, social media platforms have been tarnished by cyberbullying, the spread of illegal content, and election-meddling claims. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted Tuesday that "social media is causing social harm". "It can be a weapon for bullies, a platform for peer pressure, a driver of anxiety, a vehicle for scammers and, worst of all, a tool for online predators," he wrote in an opinion piece. "And because it is young Australians who are most engaged with this technology -- it is young Australians who are most at risk." The laws would give families "peace of mind" that their children's well-being and mental health were being prioritised, he said. If the proposed law passes, tech platforms would be given a one-year grace period to figure out how to implement and enforce the ban. The proposal comes just months before Australians go to the polls in a general election that must be held in the first half of 2025. lec/arb/fox
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Chiefs edge Panthers, Lions rip Colts as Dallas stuns WashingtonHours before dawn, while most Canberrans are fast asleep, the Fyshwick Logement Centre is bustling. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue The biggest sales period of the year has Australia Post staff processing thousands of parcels in Canberra to keep up with the high demand. Executive general manager Gary Starr says the sorting facility in Fyshwick can process up to 30,000 parcels per day and up to 36,000 during peak periods. To meet the demands, Australia Post has recruited seasonal casuals, extended shifts and brought back weekend operations. Delivery facility manager Dale Hyde says overtime hours are available pre-shift and post-shift, with shifts running from 11pm to 8am and some starting from 2am, 3am and 4am. Organised chaos at the Fyshwick lodgement centre. Picture by Karleen Minney Unlike larger automated hubs, the Fyshwick facility operates entirely on manual labour, which means parcels arriving from Melbourne and Sydney are sorted by hand into postcodes before being loaded into vans for nationwide delivery. As vans travel from across the country, the team handles the sheer volume in "a ballroom of activity", says Hyde. Delivery drivers have plenty of overtime shifts in the lead-up to Christmas. Picture by Karleen Minney He says during this period, drivers are delivering 100 to 200 more parcels than usual. The increased volume is sent from a wide range of businesses across Canberra, both large and small. "We work with every type of business, from those operating large-scale bricks and mortar ... to small businesses operating out of their garage or running a side hustle," says Starr. It's a busy time for Australian retailers, and while small businesses may not be able to compete with big companies, they're making efforts to participate in the cyber sales. "Many small businesses are keen to look at anything they can do to get customers through the door... Black Friday is a really good opportunity to help them do that," says Canberra Business Chamber chief executive Greg Harford. The Fyshwick faclity can process up to 30,000 parcels per day. Picture by Karleen Minney He says consumers expect the biggest sales to be available towards the end of November in the lead-up to Christmas, and many take advantage of lower prices . "Consumers are keen to get out and spend money, in particular during a cost of living crisis," he says. As our inboxes overflow with discounts of up to 80 percent, local businesses are feeling the pressure to keep up. Ryan Mongich, who owns local garden-ware business Eché Pots, says the Black Friday Sales have not met his expectations. "It's difficult for my business to take a large loss on sales to get customers in," he says. Ryan Mongich, who owns local garden-ware business Eché Pots. Picture by Karleen Minney Smaller businesses typically lack the profit margin to fund large discounts and struggle to compete during this period. "A bigger company has the funds to be able to mark down products in order to draw people in, but most small businesses are operating with a much smaller cash flow," he says. He emphasises the importance of prioritising a loyal customer base rather than immediate sales. "I think it's important to have customers want your product at a regular retail price, rather than just come in if there's a sale," he says. It's a good reminder in the midst of the cyber sales to consider local businesses. "The chamber certainly sends the message to customers to get out and support local businesses wherever you can, and use the opportunity surrounding Black Friday to help you stock up and get ready for the festive season," Harford says. Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy More from Canberra Chinese tech firms lobby influence raises alert in Canberra 11m ago No comment s 'Mighty Murrumbidgee' gets some long-awaited care as river restoration begins 11m ago No comment s Albanese facing a new mood of pick and kick 11m ago No comment s 'A ballroom of activity': How Black Friday is hitting those closer to home 11m ago No comment s PM's XI shifts to 50-over format as day one abandoned; What Kohli said to Albo No comment s 'I thought the opportunity had passed': Boland closes in on Test comeback No comment s Newsletters & Alerts View all DAILY Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. 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Braden Bjella is a culture writer. His work can be found in Mixmag, Electronic Beats, Schon! magazine, and more.Pride players, fans celebrate soccer championship with parade and rally
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers got two key defensive players back with linebacker Dre Greenlaw set to play his first game since tearing his left Achilles tendon in and defensive end Nick Bosa returning after missing three games with injuries to his hip and oblique. Greenlaw had been practicing the past few weeks and was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Thursday to play against the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco placed offensive lineman Ben Bartch on injured reserve with an ankle injury to make room on the roster. Bosa and running back Isaac Guerendo were both active for the game after being listed as questionable. Guerendo left Sunday's win over Chicago with a sprained foot. Greenlaw was one of the emotional leaders of San Francisco's defense before the freak injury in the first half of the Super Bowl loss to Kansas City. Greenlaw bounced up and down on the sideline and then started to run onto the field with a few teammates when he collapsed, holding his left leg. He was then helped off in a cart. Greenlaw was drafted in the fifth round in 2019 and emerged as one of the key defenders for San Francisco in 2022. He started 30 games the past two seasons with 247 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and three takeaways. The Niners have missed his intensity and physical play this season, especially against the run. The Rams and 49ers both promoted players from the practice squad for the game, with Los Angeles adding defensive back Charles Woods and San Francisco promoting running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn. The inactive players for the 49ers were left tackle Trent Williams (ankle), safety Malik Mustapha (chest, shoulder), running back Israel Abanikanda, cornerback Rock Ya-Sin and defensive tackle Khalil Davis. Joshua Dobbs was the emergency third quarterback. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. was active for the Rams for the first time since being claimed off waivers from Washington. The inactive players for Los Angeles were cornerback Cobie Durant (chest), running back Cody Schrader, linebacker Brennan Jackson and offensive linemen Dylan McMahon and Warren McClendon Jr. Stetson Bennett was the emergency third quarterback. ___ AP NFL: Josh Dubow, The Associated Press