Backbenchers expected to air concerns on social media ban, with details yet to be revealed

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Backbenchers expected to air concerns on social media ban, with details yet to be revealed

Parents are none the wiser on how a proposed social media ban for children under 16 would be enforced after law makers grilled experts and policy writers.

A Senate committee on Monday heard from a range of experts on the ban, which is being fast-tracked through Parliament.

While the legislation is expected to pass, a handful of Coalition backbenchers are expected to air concerns to colleagues in their party room about the rush to push it through Parliament in under 10 days.

The restriction on under-16s accessing platforms including TikTok, Snapchat,

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is set to be voted on in the lower house on Tuesday and the Senate by the end of the week.

It would come into effect 12 months later.

The legislation creates an obligation for social media platforms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under 16 years of age from having an account, or face fines of up to $50 million.

But the definition of reasonable steps, and how age-verification processes would work, is not yet clear.

Officials from the Federal Communications Department who appeared at the three-hour public hearing suggested that if teens tried to use a virtual private network (VPN) to get around the ban, the social media platforms would be held responsible for checking they were in the country they said they were.

A VPN can be used to mask a user’s address and make it ******* for them to be tracked online.

Queries on how an age-verification process would work were met with advice that was still to be decided, but could include facial biometric technology or voice analysis.

Jennifer Duxbury, from tech peak body DIGI, told the hearing that Parliament needed to be aware of other ongoing work to improve online safety for young people.

“I think Parliament needs to have the opportunity to look at how all of these different pieces of the puzzle fit together before making a judgment on this bill, which at the moment is really a tin with a label on it with all of the details to be worked out further down the track,” Dr Duxbury said.

Industry representatives have claimed the laws were being rushed and declared a ban could harm teenagers by pushing them away from vital peer connections and support.

“It cannot be understated the impacts they receive that are positive,” anti cyber-bullying group Project RockIT chief executive Lucy Thomas said.

“We need to tread very carefully, or we risk dialling back young people’s rights and pushing them into more isolated, less-supported spaces.”

But clinical psychologist Danielle Einstein disagreed.

“I do not see any benefits for mental health from social media,” she said.

“I’ve looked really hard at the evidence, and even if there were to be some, I think they are far outweighed by the disadvantages.

“When you limit social media use, depression and anxiety gets better, invariably.”

The committee received more than 10,000 submissions, despite providing only one day’s notice.

Camera IconNationals MP Keith Pitt said he was sure colleagues would raise concerns in the Coalition’s party room meeting. Credit: AAP

Nationals MP Keith Pitt said he was sure colleagues would raise concerns in the Coalition’s party room meeting on Tuesday.

“There are some colleagues with deeply held concerns and very personal experiences,” he said.

“One of the short-term solutions is to ensure a proper Senate inquiry is established … to make sure the government has got this right.”

Matt Canavan has also gone public with fears about the ban’s adequacy, saying the approach seemed to be “fill in the blanks later”.

He saw no reason for the timetable to be so rushed apart from arbitrary political deadlines.

“In principle, I have no problem with restricting their use of these apps but if we’re serious about that we need to do something that’s effective,” Senator Canavan said.

Camera IconFormer Speaker Andrew Wallace urged his colleagues to “grasp the nettle” on what he described as a totemic issue.  Credit: AAP

But former Speaker Andrew Wallace urged his colleagues to “grasp the nettle” on what he described as a totemic issue.

He said meeting with tech peak body DIGI in 2018 “felt like I had just met big tobacco in the 1960s” after hearing their claims to be doing everything they could to deal with potential harms.

“They’ve had their chance and they’ve blown it, and now it’s time for the government to step in,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Parliament had a particular responsibility to young people and an opportunity now to act.

“Let’s seize it,” Mr Albanese said.

“Let’s give children back their childhood.

“Let’s give parents new peace of mind. Let’s work together.

“Let’s pass this legislation through the House of Representatives and the Senate this week, and it will be something we can be very proud of.”

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