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While the Canberra Declaration agrees that social media can cause harm to children, we don’t believe the government usurping the role of parents is the solution. Read our submission to the social media minimum age bill inquiry.

The Canberra Declaration broadly agrees that young people are exposed to many harms on social media and that there is a need to protect them from these harms. However, we wish to express our deep concerns over the Government’s intentions to restrict access to social media for people under 16.

We would be grateful if the Committee would consider our key concerns:

The Bill Undermines the Rights of Parents

The proposed legislation undermines the rights of parents. It is parents who should be responsible for their children’s access to social media, not the state’s. This bill provides no exemptions for parents who are happy for their teenage child to have their own social media account. It does not give parents any options, regardless of what they believe is best for their own child. It seeks to dictate what content a child can access, rather than allowing parents to decide for themselves. This strategy could even backfire, leading to children accessing social media without their parents’ supervision. It’s crucial that these decisions remain in the hands of parents, not the government’s.

The Tools to Protect Children Already Exist

A quick survey of the technological landscape today reveals that this bill is not necessary. The tools that are available via Microsoft, Google, Apple, Android and numerous third party apps easily allow parents to monitor their children’s social media access in real time. All phones have parental controls that allow parents to ensure children aren’t downloading applications without their consent or passwords. Moreover, most phones now allow remote lock-out of new devices from the parent’s end.

The Bill Undermines Free Speech

The bill requires providers of social media platforms to “take reasonable steps to prevent children who have not reached a minimum age from having accounts”. However, by creating uncertainty around what is considered a “reasonable step,” the government will cause social media companies to act with undue caution and enact unwarranted censorship against all Australians. Indeed, this bill disincentivises platforms from operating in Australia altogether, which threatens the free speech of all Australians who wish to freely engage in online discussions and share their thoughts with others from around the world.

The Bill Undermines Personal Privacy

For this legislation to be properly implemented, all Australians would be required to provide some form of identification in order to access social media, not just those under 16 years of age. This opens up a host of privacy concerns. It means that Australians will be mandated by their own government to share sensitive data with foreign-owned entities. It means minors (age 16 and 17) who are allowed to have social media accounts will be required to do the same before they fully understand the risks involved. It means Australians will have to identify themselves for every online platform they use, greatly amplifying security concerns around their personal information. It means the highly sensitive data of millions of Australians will be subject to leaks, hacks and data misuse globally. This as a blatant infringement on the civil liberties of all Australians, most of all their right to privacy. Many Australians have entirely legitimate reasons for wanting to remain anonymous on social media platforms and that right should not be taken away from them.

The Bill is a Trojan Horse for Digital ID

The Albanese Government has not been shy about its wish to impose digital ID on Australians. And as the committee will no doubt be aware from the bulk of submissions to this inquiry, Australians are highly suspicious that this bill will be used as a trojan horse to usher in digital ID. Digital ID carries all of the risks of other forms of identification, but with additional, far more serious concerns. Digital ID systems pave the way for extensive government surveillance, enabling the state to track and monitor individuals’ online activities and interactions. By tying access to services to compliance with government-mandated identification, these systems greatly restrict freedom, as individuals could be denied access based on their personal beliefs or actions. This centralisation of data gives the government unprecedented power over citizens’ lives, undermining autonomy and potentially controlling who can participate in society. Such initiatives have already been implemented in other countries, and given the Australian government’s suppression of civil liberties during the Covid era, Australians have every reason to fear their government will follow the lead of repressive regimes by weaponising digital ID against them in due course.

The eSafety Commissioner is Biased

The eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant will be tasked with formulating guidelines about what are the “reasonable steps” required to prevent under 16s using social media. She must not have this responsibility. Ms Inman Grant has not established widespread trust and support for her role. She has too often veered into opining about what she thinks the world should look like. She has promoted the suppression of what she calls “hate speech”, has singled out “far-right extremism” for criticism, and has railed against U.S. President elect Donald Trump, claiming, “During his presidency Donald Trump not only savagely abused foes online with impunity, but was identified as a major superspreader of mis- and dis-information.” Such politicised rhetoric reduces trust in public officials who should simply and dispassionately apply the law. The passage of this bill would invest Ms Inman Grant with further powers she is highly likely to abuse against Australians she perceives as her ideological enemies.

Young People Need Digital Literacy

With more and more news being consumed on social media, digital literacy is an increasingly important skill for young people to possess. Allowing young people to navigate the internet freely and with unimpeded support from family and educators is vital. By legally restricting access, young Australians will have less time to develop an understanding of digital environments upon reaching adulthood, leaving them vulnerable to dangerous online narratives and activity. This must be combatted by education and guidance, not bans.

Recommendations

Instead of a mandated minimum age, The Canberra Declaration recommends the following to protect young Australians online:

• Implement improved in-school education to help young people identify and navigate harmful content online.
• Provide comprehensive education for parents to help them better understand social media platforms and how to support their children in navigating each one safely.
• Collaborate with tech platforms to create safer online environments for young people, rather than advocating for their complete removal from the internet.
• Offer more resources and education for parents on how to access and use the latest tools for protecting their children online.
• Take stronger action against bullying in schools to address the root causes of harmful online behaviour.
• Increase support for parents by providing more resources and assistance, especially in addressing the cost of living, allowing them to spend more quality time with their children.

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