The government-controlled joint select committee on social media and Australian society has released its second interim report, focused on Meta's decision to abandon its deals with Australian news organisations under the news media bargaining code. A final report from the committee will focus on online safety, the influence of algorithms on social media feeds, the effects of social media on the mental health of users and age verification technology. Related: Forcing Meta to carry news on Facebook and Instagram a scenario being considered by Australian government The two key recommendations of the report tabled Monday evening are designed to deal with the decision by Meta – owner of Facebook – to abandon the deals it signed three years ago to pay media companies for news.