While we can't control every external threat to our children, we can certainly minimise the harms they're exposed to - out in the real world and online.
As a father of two, I assure you the upcoming social media 'ban' is a hot topic in our household. On December 10, the Albanese government's world-leading reforms to enforce a minimum age on social media usage will take effect. Anyone aged under 16 won't be able to have a social media account.
Some parents have told me this is too drastic. Others are embracing the new law to prohibit a child's access to platforms that provide content they most likely don't have the emotional intelligence to understand.
No one is saying all social media is bad, however Australia's eSafety Commissioner reports seven in 10 young Australians have seen inappropriate and unsafe content. If your own child hasn't, they will know a child who has. So, it's no more TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Facebook and the like until they turn 16.
If you think it's overkill, listen to the heart-wrenching speech Bathurst mum Emma Mason gave to the UN General Assembly in September about her daughter's suicide. After years of persistent bullying on social media, including the use of fake nude imagery, in 2022 15-year-old Tilly took her own life. Emma's relentless pursuit for change following Tilly's death highlights the devastating realities of how social media access can affect children, and the need for drastic reform. We understand the restrictions won't be easy or infallible, but they will positively impact the wellbeing of young people. I'm sure of that.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Australia's approach was "plain common sense," and many European countries were pushing for similar laws. Children will still be able to access online educational materials, play games, or use wellbeing apps or messaging services. They'll just need to wait a little longer to use social media, develop and grow a little more.
The onus will not be on us as parents and guardians to police the law. Platforms will be responsible for deactivating existing underage accounts and preventing new accounts from being created, and subject to fines of up to $49.5 million for failing to do so. With all the resources at their disposal, as some of the world's largest and richest companies, it's not a stretch to ask them to take better care of our young people.
We've seen moves by Meta to refine its Instagram Teen Accounts. Children under 18 will be automatically placed into an updated 13+ setting, with content rated similarly to PG-13 movies. This won't greatly affect teens here after December 10, but reflects the influence the Australian government's representations are having on social media companies.
To my fellow parents in Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast, if you haven't already, it's time to discuss the impending changes with your children. Help them download their data, photos and videos before their accounts are deactivated.
Encourage them to talk to friends about how they feel about the restrictions and other ways to connect with friends and family. eSafety's website is full of helpful resources.
These protections for children are another commitment delivered by the Albanese government. It follows extensive consultation with young Australians, parents, experts, industry, community organisations and National Cabinet.
No child needs to experience dangerous content online. We need to see this as protecting our children like other age-based laws do, such as the sale of alcohol and cigarettes.
We are minimising one more threat to the wellbeing of our children. We do this in honour of young Tilly and all the other young people out there who have experienced, or who are experiencing, harm through social media. Australia is the first country to tread this path, and we can be proud. The world is watching and cheering us on.