The Coalition is calling on the Albanese Government to ensure that social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat cannot be exempted from social media age limits.
Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman said the Coalition welcomed the Prime Minister’s support for the Coalition’s plan to set the age limit of 16.
In June, Opposition Leader, Peter Dutton announced that a Coalition Government would raise the age of social media access to 16, and that this would be at the top of his priority list for his first 100 days in office. Five months later, Mr Albanese is now backing a similar plan.
“While the Government has taken far too long to act on this issue and back the Coalition, we welcome its decision to support the age of 16 for social media access,” Mr Coleman said.
But Mr Coleman said a statement from the Communications Minister in Parliament this week that exemptions could be allowed for social media companies raised very serious questions about the proposed laws.
“We are concerned by moves to offer loopholes to the social media companies, which would defeat the very purpose of the age limit laws,” Mr Coleman said.
“Mr Dutton and I have written to the Prime Minister to advise him of our view that products such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat are inherently unsafe for younger children. ‘There should not be any scenario under the legislation where the major social media platforms can be exempted from the operation of the new laws,’ we said.
“If there is wriggle room in the laws, the social media platforms will fully exploit it. Providing exemptions will only weaken the laws that are desperately needed to protect young Australians from the harms of social media.”
Shadow Minister for Communications
Member for Banks
Hon. David Coleman MP