‘Scrambling over the details’: Opposition slams lack of clarity around u-16 social media ban
The shadow comms minister isn't convinced the u-16 social media ban is ready to implement
The shadow minister for communications has slammed the Albanese government for being ill-prepared for the under-16 social media ban, set to take effect in less than a month.
On December 10, Australians under 16 will be locked out of social media platforms, including Tiktok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, Youtube, Reddit, and Kick.
However, details on the means used to verify user age, and a full list of platforms impacted by the legislation, are yet to be finalised. Reddit and Kick were added to the list on Tuesday evening.
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eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant explained at a press conference on Wednesday this list will be “dynamic” and added to after the December 10 start date.
“It is extraordinary that a year on from the social media age minimum being legislated, the Albanese Labor Government is still scrambling over the details of the under-16 social media ban that begins on 10 December,” McIntosh said.
“There are still several things the government has not been clear about with the Australian people, including whether a platform can compel Australians to use digital identification for age verification, and even which platforms are going to be included.”
A fact sheet issued by the government in July said the legislation “puts the onus on social media platforms, not parents or young people, to take steps to ensure fundamental protections are in place”.
It also specifies that “no Australian will be compelled to use government identification to prove their age online, and platforms must offer reasonable alternatives to users.”
According to the eSafety Commissioner, platforms may assess “age-related signals” which include how long the account has been active, analysis of the language level and style used, and whether the account holder interacts with content targeted at children under 16.
The social media minimum age framework issued by the government noted that “online gaming” services were exempt, meaning platforms like Roblox, Discord, and Twitch aren’t on the banned list, despite growing concerns about these online environments.
Inman Grant, said on Wednesday that platforms are assessed by their “sole and significant purpose”, meaning a service that is ostensibly a gaming platform would sail through, despite its heavy use as a communications service.
“Kids who are using Roblox today, they use the chat functionality and messaging so that they can online gameplay,” Inman Grant said on Wednesday.
“If the online gameplay … were taken away, would the kids still use that messaging functionality to chat? Probably not.”
She said if these platforms “start rolling out features that look more like they’re becoming a social media company than an online gaming company, then we will seek to capture them.”
Anika Wells said young Australians can “take steps to prepare and make sure they stay connected to the people and things they love”
At the same press conference, communications minister Anika Wells claimed that the government’s national education campaign, launched in mid-October, has been successful in relaying the message. She said more than 200,000 Australians have visited the esafety.gov.au to learn about the reforms.
“We are heartened to see hundreds of thousands of Australians engaging in our education resources so they can have meaningful conversations about this significant change,” Wells said.
“Now is the time for people with under-16s in their lives to start having conversations about what the new law means for them, and talk through any concerns or worries.
“Young people who expect to have their accounts deactivated from 10 December can also take steps to prepare and make sure they stay connected to the people and things they love, including by backing up content and photos and exploring other ways to keep in touch.”
McIntosh isn’t convinced the bill is ready.
“The details really matter, and the Minister should be focused on those first and foremost,” she said of Wells.
“As of today, the countdown is on, and we only have a month to go.”
Mumbrella has contacted Wells’ office for a response to McIntosh’s statement.
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