CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html>    <html class="no-js" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en-AU">  <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <title>The problems with Australia’s social media youth law | The Strategist</title> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/css/foundation.css?v=1.7" /> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/css/print.css?v=1.0.4" type="text/css" media="print" /> <link rel="icon" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/assets/img/icons/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="144x144" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/assets/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-144x144-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="114x114" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/assets/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-114x114-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/assets/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-72x72-precomposed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/assets/img/icons/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png">  <script src="//use.typekit.net/tgh0uca.js"></script> <script>try{Typekit.load();}catch(e){}</script> <meta name='robots' content='index, follow, max-image-preview:large, max-snippet:-1, max-video-preview:-1' /> <style>img:is([sizes="auto" i], [sizes^="auto," i]) { contain-intrinsic-size: 3000px 1500px }</style>  <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/" /> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="The problems with Australia’s social media youth law | The Strategist" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Australia’s landmark attempt to restrict youth access to social media will bring unwelcome consequences. The government’s legislation, passed by parliament on 28 November, risks shifting online problems to social media platforms that it doesn’t cover. ..." /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Strategist" /> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/ASPI.org" /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2024-12-06T03:00:24+00:00" /> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2024-12-06T02:12:59+00:00" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2038598670.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1024" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="714" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta name="author" content="John Coyne" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@ASPI_org" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@ASPI_org" /> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="Written by" /> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="John Coyne" /> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Est. reading time" /> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="4 minutes" /> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/#website","url":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/","name":"The Strategist","description":"ASPI's analysis and commentary site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-AU"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/#primaryimage","url":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2038598670.jpg","contentUrl":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2038598670.jpg","width":1024,"height":714,"caption":"BATH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 25: In this photo illustration a a 12-year-old school boy looks at a iPhone screen A 12-year-old boy looks at an iPhone screen showing various social media apps including TikTok, Facebook and X on February 25, 2024 in Bath, England. This week the UK government issued new guidance backing headteachers in prohibiting the use of mobile phones throughout the school day, including at break times. Many schools around the country are already prohibiting mobile phone use over concerns. The amount of time children spend on screens each day rocketed during the Covid pandemic by more than 50 per cent, the equivalent of an extra hour and twenty minutes. Researchers say that unmoderated screen time can have long-lasting effects on a child's mental and physical health. Recently TikTok announced that every account belonging to a user below age 18 have a 60-minute daily screen time limit automatically set. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/","url":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/","name":"The problems with Australia’s social media youth law | The Strategist","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2024-12-06T03:00:24+00:00","dateModified":"2024-12-06T02:12:59+00:00","author":{"@id":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/#/schema/person/a67980596297e3db4ad0b3fde70aa778"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-AU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The problems with Australia’s social media youth law"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/#/schema/person/a67980596297e3db4ad0b3fde70aa778","name":"John Coyne","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-AU","@id":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/#/schema/person/image/","url":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e84af569f04d25615d1447d4fe1908a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e84af569f04d25615d1447d4fe1908a9?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"John Coyne"},"url":"https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/author/john-coyne/"}]}</script>  <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//ajax.googleapis.com' />  <script src="//www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-33173199-1" data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript" async></script> <script data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript"> var mi_version = '8.10.0'; var mi_track_user = true; var mi_no_track_reason = ''; var disableStrs = [ 'ga-disable-UA-33173199-1', ]; /* Function to detect opted out users */ function __gtagTrackerIsOptedOut() { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { if (document.cookie.indexOf(disableStrs[index] + '=true') > -1) { return true; } } return false; } /* Disable tracking if the opt-out cookie exists. */ if (__gtagTrackerIsOptedOut()) { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { window[disableStrs[index]] = true; } } /* Opt-out function */ function __gtagTrackerOptout() { for (var index = 0; index < disableStrs.length; index++) { document.cookie = disableStrs[index] + '=true; expires=Thu, 31 Dec 2099 23:59:59 UTC; path=/'; window[disableStrs[index]] = true; } } if ('undefined' === typeof gaOptout) { function gaOptout() { __gtagTrackerOptout(); } } window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; window.MonsterInsightsDualTracker = { helpers: {}, trackers: {}, }; if (mi_track_user) { function __gtagDataLayer() { dataLayer.push(arguments); } function __gtagTracker(type, name, parameters) { if (!parameters) { parameters = {}; } if (parameters.send_to) { __gtagDataLayer.apply(null, arguments); return; } if (type === 'event') { parameters.send_to = monsterinsights_frontend.ua; __gtagDataLayer(type, name, parameters); } else { __gtagDataLayer.apply(null, arguments); } } __gtagTracker('js', new Date()); __gtagTracker('set', { 'developer_id.dZGIzZG': true, }); __gtagTracker('config', 'UA-33173199-1', {"forceSSL":"true"} ); window.gtag = __gtagTracker; (function () { /* https://developers.google.com/analytics/devguides/collection/analyticsjs/ */ /* ga and __gaTracker compatibility shim. */ var noopfn = function () { return null; }; var newtracker = function () { return new Tracker(); }; var Tracker = function () { return null; }; var p = Tracker.prototype; p.get = noopfn; p.set = noopfn; p.send = function () { var args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments); args.unshift('send'); __gaTracker.apply(null, args); }; var __gaTracker = function () { var len = arguments.length; if (len === 0) { return; } var f = arguments[len - 1]; if (typeof f !== 'object' || f === null || typeof f.hitCallback !== 'function') { if ('send' === arguments[0]) { var hitConverted, hitObject = false, action; if ('event' === arguments[1]) { if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[3]) { hitObject = { 'eventAction': arguments[3], 'eventCategory': arguments[2], 'eventLabel': arguments[4], 'value': arguments[5] ? arguments[5] : 1, } } } if ('pageview' === arguments[1]) { if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[2]) { hitObject = { 'eventAction': 'page_view', 'page_path': arguments[2], } } } if (typeof arguments[2] === 'object') { hitObject = arguments[2]; } if (typeof arguments[5] === 'object') { Object.assign(hitObject, arguments[5]); } if ('undefined' !== typeof arguments[1].hitType) { hitObject = arguments[1]; if ('pageview' === hitObject.hitType) { hitObject.eventAction = 'page_view'; } } if (hitObject) { action = 'timing' === arguments[1].hitType ? 'timing_complete' : hitObject.eventAction; hitConverted = mapArgs(hitObject); __gtagTracker('event', action, hitConverted); } } return; } function mapArgs(args) { var arg, hit = {}; var gaMap = { 'eventCategory': 'event_category', 'eventAction': 'event_action', 'eventLabel': 'event_label', 'eventValue': 'event_value', 'nonInteraction': 'non_interaction', 'timingCategory': 'event_category', 'timingVar': 'name', 'timingValue': 'value', 'timingLabel': 'event_label', 'page': 'page_path', 'location': 'page_location', 'title': 'page_title', }; for (arg in args) { if (!(!args.hasOwnProperty(arg) || !gaMap.hasOwnProperty(arg))) { hit[gaMap[arg]] = args[arg]; } else { hit[arg] = args[arg]; } } return hit; } try { f.hitCallback(); } catch (ex) { } }; __gaTracker.create = newtracker; __gaTracker.getByName = newtracker; __gaTracker.getAll = function () { return []; }; __gaTracker.remove = noopfn; __gaTracker.loaded = true; window['__gaTracker'] = __gaTracker; })(); } else { console.log(""); (function () { function __gtagTracker() { return null; } window['__gtagTracker'] = __gtagTracker; window['gtag'] = __gtagTracker; })(); } </script>  <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.org.au\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); /* ]]> */ </script> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-quicklatex-format-css' href='https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/plugins/wp-quicklatex/css/quicklatex-format.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='intelliwidget-css' href='https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/plugins/intelliwidget-per-page-featured-posts-and-menus/templates/intelliwidget.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='mtf_css-css' href='https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/plugins/mini-twitter-feed/jquery.minitwitter.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='tablepress-default-css' href='https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/plugins/tablepress/css/build/default.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='sedlex_styles-css' href='https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/sedlex/inline_styles/6eb86a46dba7b7014c3ca5b60295946fe81eecea.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/plugins/google-analytics-for-wordpress/assets/js/frontend-gtag.min.js" id="monsterinsights-frontend-script-js"></script> <script data-cfasync="false" data-wpfc-render="false" type="text/javascript" id='monsterinsights-frontend-script-js-extra'>/* <![CDATA[ */ var monsterinsights_frontend = {"js_events_tracking":"true","download_extensions":"doc,pdf,ppt,zip,xls,docx,pptx,xlsx","inbound_paths":"[]","home_url":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.org.au","hash_tracking":"false","ua":"UA-33173199-1","v4_id":""};/* ]]> */ </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.0/jquery.min.js?v=3.0.0" id="jquery-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/plugins/mini-twitter-feed/jquery.minitwitter.js" id="mtf_minitwitter-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/js/vendor/modernizr.js?v=3.0.0" id="modernizr-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/plugins/wp-quicklatex/js/wp-quicklatex-frontend.js" id="wp-quicklatex-frontend-js"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-json/" /><link rel="alternate" title="JSON" type="application/json" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/90515" /><link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspistrategist.org.au%2Fthe-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (XML)" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspistrategist.org.au%2Fthe-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law%2F&format=xml" /> <script type="text/javascript"> window._se_plugin_version = '8.1.9'; </script>     <script type="text/javascript"> var addthis_share = addthis_share || {} addthis_share = { passthrough : { twitter: { text: 'The problems with Australia’s social media youth law | John Coyne and Henry Campbell | ', via: "aspi_org" } } } </script> <script src='https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?render=explicit'></script> </head> <body class="post-template-default single single-post postid-90515 single-format-standard"> <div class="inner-wrap"> <div id="header"> <div class="inner"> <div class="header-left-strip gradient"></div> <div class="header-mid"> <div class="top-bar"> <div class="row"> <div class="small-12 large-6 columns"> <a class="logo" href="/"> <img src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/assets/img/logo.png" class="hide-for-print" alt="THE STRATEGIST" /> <img src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/assets/img/logo_black.png" class="show-for-print" alt="THE STRATEGIST" /> </a> </div> <div class="small-12 large-6 columns hide-for-print"> <div class="show-for-large-up"> <div class="top-menu-container"> <nav class="top-menu" role="navigation"> <section class="top-menu-section"> <ul id="menu-top-nav" class="top-bar-menu"><li class="divider"></li><li id="menu-item-19323" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-19323"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/about-the-strategist/">About</a></li> <li class="divider"></li><li id="menu-item-19338" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-19338"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/submissions/">Submissions</a></li> <li class="divider"></li><li id="menu-item-32139" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-32139"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/authors/">Authors</a></li> </ul> </section> </nav> </div>  <div class="search-toggle"></div> <div class="search-form"> <form action="/" method="get"> <fieldset> <div class="field-wrapper"> <label for="search">Search: </label> <input type="text" name="s" id="search" placeholder="Search" /> <input type="image" alt="Search" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/assets/img/icon-arrow.png" /> </div> </fieldset> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="mobile-top-bar hide-for-large-up hide-for-print"> <div class="row"> <div class="small-12 columns"> <div class="social-media"> <a data-options="disable_for_touch:false" data-tooltip aria-haspopup="true" class="follow-icon follow-twitter tip-bottom radius round show-for-large-up" title="Follow Us on Twitter!" href="https://www.twitter.com/aspi_org" target="_blank"></a> <a class="follow-icon follow-twitter hide-for-large-up" title="Follow Us on Twitter!" href="https://www.twitter.com/aspi_org" target="_blank"></a> <a data-options="disable_for_touch:false" data-tooltip aria-haspopup="true" class="follow-icon follow-facebook tip-bottom radius round show-for-large-up" title="Join Us on Facebook!" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Australian-Strategic-Policy-Institute/203044179760455" target="_blank"></a> <a class="follow-icon follow-facebook hide-for-large-up" title="Join Us on Facebook!" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Australian-Strategic-Policy-Institute/203044179760455" target="_blank"></a> <a data-options="disable_for_touch:false" data-tooltip aria-haspopup="true" class="follow-icon follow-rss tip-bottom radius round show-for-large-up" title="RSS Feed" href="/?feed=rss" target="_blank"></a> <a class="follow-icon follow-rss hide-for-large-up" title="RSS Feed" href="/?feed=rss" target="_blank"></a> </div>  <div class="mobile-search-toggle"></div> <div class="mobile-search-form"> <form action="/" method="get"> <fieldset> <div class="field-wrapper"> <label for="search">Search: </label> <input type="text" name="s" id="search" placeholder="Search" /> <input type="image" alt="Search" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/assets/img/icon-arrow.png" /> </div> </fieldset> </form> </div>  <div class="mobile-menu-trigger"></div> <div class="mobile-menu"> <div class="top-menu-container"> <nav class="top-menu" role="navigation"> <section class="top-menu-section"> <ul id="menu-mobile-menu" class="top-bar-menu"><li class="divider"></li><li id="menu-item-20021" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20021"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/about-the-strategist/">About</a></li> <li class="divider"></li><li id="menu-item-32143" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-32143"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/authors/">Authors</a></li> <li class="divider"></li><li id="menu-item-20017" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20017"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/submissions/">Submissions</a></li> <li class="divider"></li><li id="menu-item-20020" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20020"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/subscribe/">Subscribe</a></li> </ul> </section> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="header-right-strip gradient"></div> </div> </div> <section class="container" role="document"> <div id="main"> <div class="row"> <div class="small-12 large-9 columns" role="main"> <div class="content single-post"> <article class="post-90515 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-general tag-australian-government tag-law-enforcement tag-social-media tag-youth" id="post-90515"> <header> <div class="entry-title">The problems with Australia’s social media youth law</div> <div class="meta" datetime="2024-12-06T14:00:24+11:00">6 Dec 2024<span class='divider'>|</span><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/author/john-coyne/" title="Posts by John Coyne" class="author url fn" rel="author">John Coyne</a> and <a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/author/henry-campbell/" title="Posts by Henry Campbell" class="author url fn" rel="author">Henry Campbell</a></div> </header> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="share-buttons-container"> <div class="share-buttons"> <span class="share-label">SHARE</span> <a role="button" tabindex="1" class="share-button share-button-facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/" target="_blank"> <span class="hidden">Share to Facebook</span> <span class="icon-wrapper" style="line-height: 32px; height: 32px; width: 32px;"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="at-icon at-icon-facebook" style="width: 32px; height: 32px;"> <g><path d="M22 5.16c-.406-.054-1.806-.16-3.43-.16-3.4 0-5.733 1.825-5.733 5.17v2.882H9v3.913h3.837V27h4.604V16.965h3.823l.587-3.913h-4.41v-2.5c0-1.123.347-1.903 2.198-1.903H22V5.16z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></g> </svg> </span> </a> <a role="button" tabindex="1" class="share-button share-button-twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The problems with Australia’s social media youth law+%7C+John Coyne and Henry Campbell+%7C+&url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/&via=aspi_org" target="_blank"> <span class="hidden">Share to Twitter</span> <span class="icon-wrapper" style="line-height: 32px; height: 32px; width: 32px;"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="at-icon at-icon-twitter" style="width: 32px; height: 32px;"> <g><path d="M27.996 10.116c-.81.36-1.68.602-2.592.71a4.526 4.526 0 0 0 1.984-2.496 9.037 9.037 0 0 1-2.866 1.095 4.513 4.513 0 0 0-7.69 4.116 12.81 12.81 0 0 1-9.3-4.715 4.49 4.49 0 0 0-.612 2.27 4.51 4.51 0 0 0 2.008 3.755 4.495 4.495 0 0 1-2.044-.564v.057a4.515 4.515 0 0 0 3.62 4.425 4.52 4.52 0 0 1-2.04.077 4.517 4.517 0 0 0 4.217 3.134 9.055 9.055 0 0 1-5.604 1.93A9.18 9.18 0 0 1 6 23.85a12.773 12.773 0 0 0 6.918 2.027c8.3 0 12.84-6.876 12.84-12.84 0-.195-.005-.39-.014-.583a9.172 9.172 0 0 0 2.252-2.336" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></g> </svg> </span> </a> <a role="button" tabindex="1" class="share-button share-button-linkedin" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/" target="_blank"> <span class="hidden">Share to LinkedIn</span> <span class="icon-wrapper" style="line-height: 32px; height: 32px; width: 32px;"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="at-icon at-icon-linkedin" style="width: 32px; height: 32px;"> <g><path d="M26 25.963h-4.185v-6.55c0-1.56-.027-3.57-2.175-3.57-2.18 0-2.51 1.7-2.51 3.46v6.66h-4.182V12.495h4.012v1.84h.058c.558-1.058 1.924-2.174 3.96-2.174 4.24 0 5.022 2.79 5.022 6.417v7.386zM8.23 10.655a2.426 2.426 0 0 1 0-4.855 2.427 2.427 0 0 1 0 4.855zm-2.098 1.84h4.19v13.468h-4.19V12.495z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></g> </svg> </span> </a> <a role="button" tabindex="1" class="share-button share-button-email" href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b18ec2c4d3dbd4d2c58cf0e2e1f891e2c5c3d0c5d4d6d8c2c58b91e5d9d491c1c3ded3ddd4dcc291c6d8c5d991f0c4c2c5c3d0ddd8d0533128c291c2ded2d8d0dd91dcd4d5d8d091c8dec4c5d991ddd0c697d3ded5c88cd9c5c5c1c28b9e9ec6c6c69fd0c2c1d8c2c5c3d0c5d4d6d8c2c59fdec3d69fd0c49ec5d9d49cc1c3ded3ddd4dcc29cc6d8c5d99cd0c4c2c5c3d0ddd8d0c29cc2ded2d8d0dd9cdcd4d5d8d09cc8dec4c5d99cddd0c69e"> <span class="hidden">Share to Email</span> <span class="icon-wrapper" style="line-height: 32px; height: 32px; width: 32px;"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="at-icon at-icon-email" style="width: 32px; height: 32px;"> <g><g fill-rule="evenodd"></g><path d="M27 22.757c0 1.24-.988 2.243-2.19 2.243H7.19C5.98 25 5 23.994 5 22.757V13.67c0-.556.39-.773.855-.496l8.78 5.238c.782.467 1.95.467 2.73 0l8.78-5.238c.472-.28.855-.063.855.495v9.087z"></path><path d="M27 9.243C27 8.006 26.02 7 24.81 7H7.19C5.988 7 5 8.004 5 9.243v.465c0 .554.385 1.232.857 1.514l9.61 5.733c.267.16.8.16 1.067 0l9.61-5.733c.473-.283.856-.96.856-1.514v-.465z"></path></g> </svg> </span> </a> <div class="wp-print"> <a class="print-buttons" href="#" title="Print This Post" rel="nofollow">Print This Post</a> <div class="print-options"><a class="with-image" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/print/">With Images</a><a class="without-image" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/printni/90515/">Without Images</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <figure><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="714" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-90519" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2038598670.jpg" srcset="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2038598670.jpg 1024w, https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2038598670-205x143.jpg 205w, https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/GettyImages-2038598670-768x536.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> <p>Australia’s landmark attempt to restrict youth access to social media will bring unwelcome consequences. The government’s legislation, passed by parliament on 28 November, risks shifting online problems to social media platforms that it doesn’t cover. It also undermines parents’ rights and offers little clarity on enforcement or effectiveness.</p> <p>Its limitations on social media access fail to acknowledge the nuanced nature of digital harms. What Australia needs is not a blunt instrument such as an age restriction, but a comprehensive, forward-thinking strategy that addresses the full range of digital harms that young people face.</p> <p>The legislation is the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024. The world-first law will require social media platforms to withhold access from Australians under 16.</p> <p>The Bill’s intent is clear—to safeguard young Australians from the perceived harms of social media, mainly related to mental health—but its approach is vague and misguided.</p> <p>Mixed messages sent by Australian politicians about youth responsibility are stark. While the federal government is moving ahead with this legislation, in Queensland and the Northern Territory there’s a push to reduce the age of criminal responsibility; some suggest that children as young as 10 should be held accountable for serious crimes. At the same time, the Australian Greens are advocating for a reduction in the voting age, proposing that young people should have a say in the nation’s future despite being considered too immature to manage their own online presence. Those inconsistencies undermine the clarity and effectiveness of national policy on youth issues.</p> <p>At its core, the Bill seeks to address a poorly understood issue with a solution that appears more reactionary than strategic. It fails to acknowledge the nuanced nature of digital harms—mental health issues, online radicalisation and misinformation—many of which are not confined to traditional social media.</p> <p>Restricting access to platforms like Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram may seem like an obvious measure to protect youth, but it overlooks the dynamic, shifting nature of the online world. Rather than curbing digital harms, it could push young people towards less regulated spaces such as gaming platforms, forums or encrypted messaging apps. That could open up new, unforeseen risks.</p> <p>Young people’s relationships and social interactions are increasingly digital. For them, online friendships are just as real, meaningful and complex as the ones forged in person by previous generations. By failing to understand that shift, the Bill risks misjudging young people’s digital lives and undermining their autonomy. Moreover, it risks socially isolating many young Australians from friends geographically dispersed across the world.</p> <p>Enforcing the legislation will be challenging. It does not clearly define what constitutes a ‘social media platform’ or outline a concrete plan for implementing restrictions, even if that’s technically possible. For instance, Snapchat could easily circumvent restrictions by reducing its social media features, leaving its core messaging capabilities intact. The legislation also excludes messaging and gaming platforms. Youth radicalisation has often occurred in spaces outside conventional social media on platforms like Discord or through direct messaging. As we’ve seen in recent cases of violent extremism, those platforms can play just as pivotal a role in radicalisation as social media networks.</p> <p>The Bill assumes that digital harm can be mitigated through restrictions alone, without considering the broader context of online engagement. While reducing young people’s exposure to certain platforms might protect them from some forms of harm, it does not address the root causes or provide lasting solutions.</p> <p>The reality is that young Australians will continue to be exposed to harmful content online, regardless of which platform they use. The real issue lies not just in the platforms themselves but in a lack of digital literacy, inadequate online safety education and the broader societal factors that contribute to mental health struggles. With its focus on age-based restrictions, the Bill fails to provide a holistic, effective solution to the challenges young people face in today’s digital environment. Also, if social media organisations implement these measures, they’ll arguably be required to hold more of our data, bringing new risks.</p> <p>Australia needs a comprehensive, forward-thinking strategy that addresses the full range of digital harms young people face. That includes improving digital literacy in schools, equipping parents with the tools to protect and guide their children and strengthening collaboration with tech companies to develop more effective content moderation.</p> <p>Rather than simply banning access to certain platforms, the government must focus on promoting resilience, fostering safer online spaces and giving young people the skills they need to navigate the digital world responsibly. Importantly, any policy response must respect the rights of parents to make decisions about their children’s digital lives and avoid imposing top-down solutions that limit parental involvement.</p> <p>The government’s approach to this Bill fails to recognise the complexity of digital harm and, by focusing solely on age-based restrictions, risks creating a false sense of security. The solution lies not in attempting to shut Pandora’s box but in ensuring that the next generation is equipped to handle its contents. Perhaps the starting point should be better engaging with Australia’s youth.</p> </div> <div class="entry-author blue-border-bottom"> <div class="label author"> <span>Author</span> </div> <div class="author-bio"> <div class="inner"> <p><strong>John Coyne</strong> is director of national security programs at ASPI and <strong>Henry Campbell</strong> is the strategic engagement and program manager of ASPI’s Northern Australian Strategic Policy Centre (NASPC), Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement Program and Counterterrorism Program.</p> <p> </p> <p>Image of a young boy looking at a phone: <a href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/in-this-photo-illustration-a-a-12-year-old-school-boy-looks-news-photo/2038598670" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Cardy/Getty Images</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="tags-share-tools hide-for-print"> <div class="row"> <div class="large-8 columns"> <div class="article-tags blue-border-bottom"> <div class="section-title uppercase">Tags</div> <ul> <li class="tag-container"><a class="tag" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/tag/australian-government/">Australian government</a></li> <li class="tag-container"><a class="tag" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/tag/law-enforcement/">law enforcement</a></li> <li class="tag-container"><a class="tag" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/tag/social-media/">social media</a></li> <li class="tag-container"><a class="tag" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/tag/youth/">youth</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="large-4 columns article-share"> <div class="inner blue-border-bottom"> <div class="section-title uppercase">Share</div> <div class="share-buttons"> <span class="share-label">SHARE</span> <a role="button" tabindex="1" class="share-button share-button-facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/" target="_blank"> <span class="hidden">Share to Facebook</span> <span class="icon-wrapper" style="line-height: 32px; height: 32px; width: 32px;"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="at-icon at-icon-facebook" style="width: 32px; height: 32px;"> <g><path d="M22 5.16c-.406-.054-1.806-.16-3.43-.16-3.4 0-5.733 1.825-5.733 5.17v2.882H9v3.913h3.837V27h4.604V16.965h3.823l.587-3.913h-4.41v-2.5c0-1.123.347-1.903 2.198-1.903H22V5.16z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></g> </svg> </span> </a> <a role="button" tabindex="1" class="share-button share-button-twitter" href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The problems with Australia’s social media youth law+%7C+John Coyne and Henry Campbell+%7C+&url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/&via=aspi_org" target="_blank"> <span class="hidden">Share to Twitter</span> <span class="icon-wrapper" style="line-height: 32px; height: 32px; width: 32px;"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="at-icon at-icon-twitter" style="width: 32px; height: 32px;"> <g><path d="M27.996 10.116c-.81.36-1.68.602-2.592.71a4.526 4.526 0 0 0 1.984-2.496 9.037 9.037 0 0 1-2.866 1.095 4.513 4.513 0 0 0-7.69 4.116 12.81 12.81 0 0 1-9.3-4.715 4.49 4.49 0 0 0-.612 2.27 4.51 4.51 0 0 0 2.008 3.755 4.495 4.495 0 0 1-2.044-.564v.057a4.515 4.515 0 0 0 3.62 4.425 4.52 4.52 0 0 1-2.04.077 4.517 4.517 0 0 0 4.217 3.134 9.055 9.055 0 0 1-5.604 1.93A9.18 9.18 0 0 1 6 23.85a12.773 12.773 0 0 0 6.918 2.027c8.3 0 12.84-6.876 12.84-12.84 0-.195-.005-.39-.014-.583a9.172 9.172 0 0 0 2.252-2.336" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></g> </svg> </span> </a> <a role="button" tabindex="1" class="share-button share-button-linkedin" href="http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/" target="_blank"> <span class="hidden">Share to LinkedIn</span> <span class="icon-wrapper" style="line-height: 32px; height: 32px; width: 32px;"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="at-icon at-icon-linkedin" style="width: 32px; height: 32px;"> <g><path d="M26 25.963h-4.185v-6.55c0-1.56-.027-3.57-2.175-3.57-2.18 0-2.51 1.7-2.51 3.46v6.66h-4.182V12.495h4.012v1.84h.058c.558-1.058 1.924-2.174 3.96-2.174 4.24 0 5.022 2.79 5.022 6.417v7.386zM8.23 10.655a2.426 2.426 0 0 1 0-4.855 2.427 2.427 0 0 1 0 4.855zm-2.098 1.84h4.19v13.468h-4.19V12.495z" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></g> </svg> </span> </a> <a role="button" tabindex="1" class="share-button share-button-email" href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e5da9690878f808691d8a4b6b5acc5b69197849180828c9691dfc5b18d80c595978a8789808896c5928c918dc5a49096919784898c8407657c96c5968a868c8489c58880818c84c59c8a90918dc5898492c3878a819cd88d91919596dfcaca929292cb8496958c969197849180828c9691cb8a9782cb8490ca918d80c895978a8789808896c8928c918dc8849096919784898c8496c8968a868c8489c88880818c84c89c8a90918dc8898492ca"> <span class="hidden">Share to Email</span> <span class="icon-wrapper" style="line-height: 32px; height: 32px; width: 32px;"> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewBox="0 0 32 32" class="at-icon at-icon-email" style="width: 32px; height: 32px;"> <g><g fill-rule="evenodd"></g><path d="M27 22.757c0 1.24-.988 2.243-2.19 2.243H7.19C5.98 25 5 23.994 5 22.757V13.67c0-.556.39-.773.855-.496l8.78 5.238c.782.467 1.95.467 2.73 0l8.78-5.238c.472-.28.855-.063.855.495v9.087z"></path><path d="M27 9.243C27 8.006 26.02 7 24.81 7H7.19C5.988 7 5 8.004 5 9.243v.465c0 .554.385 1.232.857 1.514l9.61 5.733c.267.16.8.16 1.067 0l9.61-5.733c.473-.283.856-.96.856-1.514v-.465z"></path></g> </svg> </span> </a> <div class="wp-print"> <a class="print-buttons" href="#" title="Print This Post" rel="nofollow">Print This Post</a> <div class="print-options"><a class="with-image" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/print/">With Images</a><a class="without-image" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-problems-with-australias-social-media-youth-law/printni/90515/">Without Images</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer> </footer> </article> </div> </div> <aside id="sidebar" class="small-12 large-3 columns hide-for-print"> <article id="aspi_follow-2" class="row widget widget_aspi_follow"><div class="small-12 columns"><div class="inner"> <a data-options="disable_for_touch:false" data-tooltip aria-haspopup="true" class="follow-icon follow-twitter tip-bottom radius round show-for-large-up" title="Follow Us on Twitter!" href="https://www.twitter.com/aspi_org" target="_blank"></a> <a class="follow-icon follow-twitter hide-for-large-up" title="Follow Us on Twitter!" href="https://www.twitter.com/aspi_org" target="_blank"></a> <a data-options="disable_for_touch:false" data-tooltip aria-haspopup="true" class="follow-icon follow-facebook tip-bottom radius round show-for-large-up" title="Join Us on Facebook!" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Australian-Strategic-Policy-Institute/203044179760455" target="_blank"></a> <a class="follow-icon follow-facebook hide-for-large-up" title="Join Us on Facebook!" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Australian-Strategic-Policy-Institute/203044179760455" target="_blank"></a> <a data-options="disable_for_touch:false" data-tooltip aria-haspopup="true" class="follow-icon follow-rss tip-bottom radius round show-for-large-up" title="RSS Feed" href="/?feed=rss" target="_blank"></a> <a class="follow-icon follow-rss hide-for-large-up" title="RSS Feed" href="/?feed=rss" target="_blank"></a> </div></div></article><article id="aspi_subscribe-2" class="row widget widget_aspi_subscribe"><div class="small-12 columns"><div class="inner"> <div class="subtitle">Subscribe to <i>The Strategist</i></div> <form name="subscribe_form" id="subscribe_form" action="" method="post"> <div><label for="fullname" class="label">Full Name:</label><input type="text" name="fullname" id="fullname" class="inputbox" placeholder="Full Name"></div> <div><label for="email" class="label">Email:</label><input type="text" name="email" id="email" class="inputbox" placeholder="Email"></div> <div id="grecaptcha" class="grecaptcha hidden" data-size="normal" data-sitekey="6Ld7DSkTAAAAALqGXPmJMAj_o6EEwv-AuMoqFXYe"></div> <div class="list-option cell-left"><div class="list-option-inner"><input type="checkbox" name="daily" id="daily" value="6168885c1201a8f6a58e1c953b0ff864"> <label for="daily">Daily</label></div></div> <div class="list-option cell-right"><div class="list-option-inner"><input type="checkbox" name="weekly" id="weekly" value="d359dd9958dd18ca18b319eacbb69ae5"> <label for="weekly">Weekly</label></div></div> <div><input type="submit" value="Subscribe" name="subscribe_button" id="subscribe_button"></div> </form> </div></div></article><article id="custom_html-12" class="widget_text row widget widget_custom_html"><div class="widget_text small-12 columns"><div class="widget_text inner"><div class="textwidget custom-html-widget"><div style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><a href="https://techtracker.aspi.org.au/" target="_blank"><img src="https://ad-aspi.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/2024-08/Crit%20tech%20logo.JPG?VersionId=ewY3ufRn9EC.Wp9wHtPckcGEGYvP6oJ0" alt="The Sydney Dialogue 2024"></a></div></div></div></div></article><article id="custom_html-3" class="widget_text row widget widget_custom_html"><div class="widget_text small-12 columns"><div class="widget_text inner"><div class="textwidget custom-html-widget"><div style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0oGKbtgUdwo9zEY3AJUmFF" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/STW_strategist-side-01.png" alt="Policy, Guns & Money. Podcast" style="border: 0;"></a></div></div></div></div></article><article id="custom_html-5" class="widget_text row widget widget_custom_html"><div class="widget_text small-12 columns"><div class="widget_text inner"><div class="textwidget custom-html-widget"><div style="width: 100%; text-align: center;"><a href="/dinkus/north-of-26-south/"><img src="/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/North-of-26-South.jpg" alt="North of 26 South"></a></div></div></div></div></article><article id="aspi_quicklinks-2" class="row widget widget_aspi_quicklinks"><div class="small-12 columns"><div class="inner"> <div class="quicklink"> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.aspi.org.au/">Visit ASPI's homepage</a> </div> </div></div></article> <div class="content related-posts"><div id="related-posts-MRP_all" class="related-posts-type"> <div class="section-title uppercase">Related Posts</div><div><ul class="small-block-grid-2 large-block-grid-3"><li><article><div class="article-img "><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-needs-a-cybersecurity-overhaul-not-whack-a-mole-bans-on-apps-like-tiktok/"><img src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tiktok2309-332x221.jpg" /></a></div><div class="article-title"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australia-needs-a-cybersecurity-overhaul-not-whack-a-mole-bans-on-apps-like-tiktok/">Australia needs a cybersecurity overhaul—not whack-a-mole bans on apps like TikTok</a></article></li><li><article><div class="article-img "><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/digital-literacy-is-a-national-security-asset/"><img src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-2150468146-332x221.jpg" /></a></div><div class="article-title"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/digital-literacy-is-a-national-security-asset/">Digital literacy is a national security asset</a></article></li><li><article><div class="article-img "><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/as-tools-for-hybrid-threats-apps-like-telegram-must-be-accountable/"><img src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-2167658346-332x221.jpg" /></a></div><div class="article-title"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/as-tools-for-hybrid-threats-apps-like-telegram-must-be-accountable/">As tools for hybrid threats, apps like Telegram must be accountable</a></article></li><li><article><div class="article-img "><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/digital-spinach-what-australia-can-learn-from-chinas-youth-screen-time-restrictions/"><img src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GettyImages-2169780954-332x221.jpg" /></a></div><div class="article-title"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/digital-spinach-what-australia-can-learn-from-chinas-youth-screen-time-restrictions/">Digital spinach: What Australia can learn from China’s youth screen-time restrictions</a></article></li><li><article><div class="article-img "><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/balancing-justice-and-maturity-the-contradiction-in-australias-youth-crime-and-social-media-policies/"><img src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GettyImages-1242963264-332x221.jpg" /></a></div><div class="article-title"><a href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/balancing-justice-and-maturity-the-contradiction-in-australias-youth-crime-and-social-media-policies/">Balancing justice and maturity: the contradiction in Australia’s youth crime and social media policies</a></article></li></ul></div></div><div class='hide-for-large-up'><div class='swControls'><a class="previous swNav" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/nuclear-deterrence-needs-to-be-discussed-at-anzmin/">Previous</a><a class="next swNav" href="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/anticipating-trumps-foreign-policy/">Next</a></div></div></div> </aside> </div> </div> </section> <footer class="row"> </footer> <div class="row"> <div class="small-12 columns"> <div id="hTweets" class="twitter"> <div class="inner1"> <div class="inner2"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row"> <div class="small-12 columns"> <div class="footer-container"> <p>The Strategist — The Australian Strategic Policy Institute Blog. Copyright © 2025</p> </div> </div> </div> <a class="exit-off-canvas"></a> </div> <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/js/foundation.js?v=3.0.0" id="foundation-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/js/foundation.tooltip.js?v=3.0.0" id="foundation-tooltips-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/js/vendor/afterresize.min.js?v=3.0.0" id="afterresize-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/js/vendor/jquery.flexslider-min.js?v=3.0.0" id="flexslider-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/js/vendor/css_browser_selector.js?v=3.0.0" id="css-browser-selector-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/themes/aspi/js/script.js?v=3.0.0" id="script-js"></script> <script>(function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'90b595b07c5f4038',t:'MTczODQ1MTExMS4wMDAwMDA='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.nonce='';a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();</script></body> </html>