Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Apple’s executive chair Tim Cook at Apple Park on a Sunday, as reported by Reuters. Cook described Australia’s social‑media restrictions as "world‑leading" and said he was pleased to show the prime minister some of Apple’s latest technology, including controls designed to help protect children online. Albanese afterwards said Cook viewed Australia’s work on social‑media regulation as leading other countries.
Australia became the first country to ban social‑media use for children under 16 in December. This month the government announced plans to let social‑media users choose the content they see in their feeds as part of an ongoing online‑safety push. Earlier this year the European Commission proposed a ban for children under 13.
Although Apple is not a major social‑media operator, its iPhone and App Store serve as critical gateways to platforms run by companies such as Meta Platforms, Alphabet, Snap and ByteDance‑owned TikTok. Cook noted that he had led Apple as chief executive for 15 years before stepping down recently.
The meeting underscores how technology firms are engaging with governments that are tightening rules aimed at protecting younger users and giving individuals more control over their online experience.
