The government's plan to ban kids under 16 from social media is not just bad policy—it's a technical and privacy disaster waiting to happen.

The current ID laws are reprehensible. They are forcing a situation where every Australian—adults and children—will have to submit to invasive age verification just to access a social network. It's even worse for international visitors; because they can't use myGovID, they will be forced to hand over their passport details directly to the tech giants just to use Instagram on holiday.

This means creating massive, centralised databases of our sensitive information, tied directly to our social media use. From a security perspective, this is a nightmare. It creates an irresistible target for hackers and a tool for surveillance that is completely unnecessary.

Worse, it won't even work. Blanket bans are notoriously easy for any tech-savvy kid to get around. The age verification tech is still unreliable. In the UK, where similar systems have been trialled, it's already been shown that they can be easily beaten with simple workarounds like VPNs or by fooling AI age checks with a new online persona, just like creating a video game character. A child can simply use a computer-generated image of an adult's face or a photo of an older person to pass the check. We are being asked to trade our family's privacy for a security gate that has a giant, unlocked door right next to it.

There is a better way. A way that uses technology smartly, respects privacy, and actually empowers parents.

That’s why I’ve developing a detailed, technically feasible policy framework called the ‘Parent-Child Digital Safety Link’. (Skip to the full proposal here)  

Instead of a blanket ban, my plan uses a secure, opt-in system through myGov. Parents who choose to supervise their kids can create a single, secure account. From there, they can register their child's device. Any social media or gaming account created on that device is then automatically and permanently linked to the parent's supervision hub.

This isn't a fantasy; it's a practical plan that lets parents parent. It gives us real tools:

A central hub to see every account our child has.
Real-time alerts if they try to create a secret account.
The power to block users and report content, with the platform’s response logged directly with the eSafety Commissioner for real accountability.
A secure, anonymous channel to talk to other parents if our kids are having issues online.
A confidential 'safe space' app for our kids to seek help if they're in trouble at home.
The government is rushing ahead with a flawed, dangerous, and ineffective law. We need to tell them there is a smarter, safer, and more effective alternative that puts parents back in control.

I have started an e-petition, EN7828 which has recently been approved, and have sent this proposal to the Minister for Communications and the eSafety Commissioner as well

Please, sign this petition and demand that the Minister for Communications and the eSafety Commissioner abandon the current flawed approach and seriously consider the ‘Parent-Child Digital Safety Link’ as a real solution to protect Australian children online.