PM brands social media ban a success before it starts
While Anthony Albanese described Australia’s world-first social media ban on young people as successful, he also admitted that its implementation “will not be perfect”.
The ban will go into effect on Wednesday, the deadline for social media platforms to restrict access to the accounts of users between the ages of 13 and 15.
The law applies to 10 platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and X, and aims to protect children from online harm.
Mr Albanese said the ban was “already successful” because it sparked discussions between parents and children on social media.
“This is a change that is not coming from the government,” he told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday.
“This is a change that comes from parents taking a personal tragedy and channeling it into wanting no other parent to experience the heartbreak they experienced.”
Labor has repeatedly met with parents, including Emma Mason, the mother of 15-year-old Tilly, who committed suicide after being bullied online.
Although the Prime Minister said the implementation of the ban “won’t be perfect”, he compared it to liquor laws that ban under-18s from buying alcohol.
“We made it very clear that this wasn’t going to be perfect, just like last night… someone under the age of 18 had been drinking at the bar,” he said.
“We want children to have the opportunity to enjoy their childhood.”
Communications Minister Anika Wells, who has come under fire for her taxpayer-funded $100,000 trip to New York to enforce the laws, has warned that the list of banned platforms could expand.
Ms Wells defended the trip in a grueling 25-minute interview on Sunday, saying it was within government guidelines and was “important to gain allies” in terms of the law.
“We’ve seen young people lose their lives and their parents bravely give up their own time to see reform around the world… but we need allies for this to succeed,” he told Sky News.
Smaller apps are growing in popularity as kids switch to apps that aren’t included in the ban.
These include Lemon8, which agreed to limit use of its app to people 16 and over starting Wednesday.
The Coalition has stepped up its criticism of the ban, with National Leader David Littleproud not convinced tech giants will comply.
“You have to understand that these tech giants make a huge chunk of their advertising revenue from having young people on their platforms,” he told Sky News.
Platforms face fines of up to $49.5 million if they don’t take “reasonable steps” to prevent those under 16 from owning accounts.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Child Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
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