The government’s proposal to ban children from using social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram until they turn 16 has garnered significant political attention, but its implementation could be difficult. The proposed legislation would mandate that platforms verify users’ ages to ensure they are over 16, with heavy fines for non-compliance. This would affect major companies like Google, Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook), and Chinese rivals such as X and TikTok. These companies argue that the law could have unintended consequences, including isolating young people or driving them to less secure and regulated online spaces.
The government, however, says the bill, which it wants to pass by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday, is well-designed and will have robust privacy provisions. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland told parliament it would also force platforms to ringfence and destroy data collected to protect young Australians. “Our young people need us to be in their corner when it comes to supporting their online safety,” she said, citing research that found 95% of parents found online safety to be one of their top parenting challenges. “Almost two-thirds of 14 to 17-year-old Australians have viewed extremely harmful content online including drug abuse, suicide or self-harm as well as violent material,” she added.
However, companies argue that the legislation needs to be more timely in considering its wide-ranging effects on society and that more time must be spent assessing age verification measures. The bill was introduced in parliament last week and opened for submissions of opinions for only a day, meaning companies needed more opportunity to consider the proposals before they were made law. Meta and Google, for example, both pointed out that the new rules could have unintended consequences, such as isolating young people or driving them to less safe and regulated digital spaces.
Both companies also raised concerns about the proposal’s impact on freedom of expression and access to information. U.S. billionaire Elon Musk’s X labeled it a backdoor way to control Internet access.
A dominant theme in the hastily written submissions sent to the government was that its proposal was too broad and could have significant unintended consequences. Other stakeholders, including mental health advocates and young people themselves, shared this view.
But the big question remains: can the government’s political clout and overwhelming public polling support for its plan overcome these concerns? It’s a question that will be decided in just months when Australians go to the polls for the nation’s most important election in more than three decades. The Liberal-National Coalition will lead the government into the election, but it has a minority, so any changes to policy will need crossbench support. It’s a test of the coalition’s willingness to embrace progressive ideas and stand up for its constituents, and it will give an insight into whether it can survive the next four years of government.
