Yesterday was a significant day, with the government introducing new social media legislation that raises the age of social media citizenship to 16. 36 Months Director Greg Attwells unpacks it here on Ch10 news. It includes platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, X and Facebook. It doesn’t include messaging platforms like What’s App and Messenger, entertainment/education platforms like YouTube or gaming platforms. We think the government got this right. The goal was never to stop young people communicating via the internet or accessing entertainment or educational resources.

The components of social media that we felt qualified a service for greater regulation were:

• Gamified online interaction that makes using the service highly addictive
• Algorithms that target vulnerabilities in young people and feed unhealthy obsessions
• The ability for users to share and receive commentary from a social network, allowing online bullying to grow in the shadows of the service.

This criteria supports the decisions our government has made in this new legislation. As Communications Minster Rowland put it, “it is the right thing to do, for the right reasons, at the right time.”

With bi-partisan support, it’s anticipated that this will pass through the house and senate next week. When this happens, the proposed legislation becomes law, with an implementation period of 12 months. This gives everyone, including the platforms, some time to work through the details of how to comply and age gate themselves effectively.

This really is a moment to celebrate. It’s not everyday we play a role in systemic change that will impact how children experience childhood for generations to come. Your action made this happen. Thank you.