"I'm here to enforce the laws," said the eSafety Commissioner on the ban on under-16 social media

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant has made it clear that her agency will enforce Australia’s upcoming law banning children under 16 from accessing social media platforms.

Social media companies may face penalties of up to AUD $49.5 million (USD $32.3 million) if they fail to take appropriate measures to prevent children from creating accounts.

“I’m here to enforce the laws passed by Parliament,” said Inman-Grant in an interview with ABC Radio on November 25. “Today’s inquiry is crucial, and I’ve emphasized the importance of national consistency in bills like this. Everything must align to ensure cohesive implementation. We’ll assess the outcomes and enforce Parliament’s decisions accordingly.”

Inman-Grant also highlighted the need to support vulnerable and marginalized children by ensuring they can still connect, create, and explore. “When implementing the law, we will strive to balance protection with safeguarding children’s rights, including their ability to communicate and express themselves online,” she added.

The commissioner recently returned from a 10-day trip to Europe, where she collaborated with 30 online safety regulators to promote “safety by design” features on digital platforms.

“These opaque algorithms can lead users into harmful rabbit holes. Despite our six years of advocacy for safety by design, social media platforms have made only gradual progress in enhancing child safety,” she said.

When asked about Elon Musk’s potential impact on the safety of Australians, she stated, “My role is to address safety risks, regardless of who is involved. We’ll continue to regulate impartially to protect Australians online.”

Details of the Ban

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland explained that the new restrictions would apply to platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X. However, services like YouTube and messaging apps will not be included to preserve communication with family and friends.

“Risks exist on messaging apps and online gaming, but they don’t involve the same algorithmic manipulation that drives endless engagement,” Rowland said in Parliament on November 21.

Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman affirmed the opposition’s commitment to supporting the legislation, saying, “The Coalition has backed a social media age limit of 16 since June. This is an urgent issue, and we’re glad to see progress.”

However, internal concerns within the Coalition have surfaced. Nationals Senator Matt Canavan and Liberal Senator Alex Antic raised questions about how the age of users would be verified, as the process will require all users, not just those under 16, to confirm their age.

The government has proposed that platforms implement “age assurance” measures but has not specified how this should be achieved.

Additionally, some senators, including Pauline Hanson and Sarah Hanson-Young, expressed concerns about the tight timeframe for introducing the bill. The legislation was referred to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee on November 21, with a report expected by November 26.