Senate Inquiry Supports Social Media Ban, Without Requiring Digital ID

November 26, 2024 TruthUSA

The bill for a ban on social media for individuals under the age of 16 has been approved by the House and will now be reviewed by the Senate.

An inquiry conducted by the Senate regarding Australia’s under-16 social media ban has recommended the passage of the legislation without the requirement of a digital ID.

The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 (pdf) was approved by the House of Representatives with 102 votes in favor and 13 against on Nov. 27, and will now be under consideration by the Senate.

The bill proposes penalties of up to $49.5 million (US$32 million) for social media companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to prevent underage children from accessing their platforms.

After just five days of consideration and a 24-hour submission period for the public, the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee prepared a report.

The report states that “the bill should be revised to prohibit age-restricted platform providers from mandating the use of an accredited [Digital ID] service or other government IDs, such as passports, and must provide alternative methods for verifying age as reasonable steps, with the age assurance trial taken into account” (pdf).

Additionally, the committee recommended that the Australian government enact a Digital Duty of Care, making digital platforms legally responsible for user safety.

Led by Labor Senator Karen Grogan, the committee consists of members from the Coalition, Jacqui Lambie Network, One Nation, and independents.

It also recommended that the communications minister submit a report on the progress of age verification by Sept. 30, 2025.

The inquiry suggested empowering the minister to review any “reasonable steps” determined by the eSafety commissioner.

‘No Requirement’ for Platforms to Use Digital ID: Government

Throughout the inquiry process, there was discussion about the government’s Digital ID system.

Previously, the federal Communications Department stated, “There’s no requirement for platforms to use the Digital ID system to comply with the obligation.”

The committee’s report indicated that the evidence from the department suggested no viable way for the eSafety Commissioner to designate Digital ID as a form of age verification.

“This indicates the need to strengthen the legislation to ensure this mechanism is not an option,” the committee stated.

Communities Join the Discussion

The report highlighted that a survey conducted by the New South Wales government in 2024, involving 21,000 participants, revealed that “87 percent of respondents supported establishing a minimum age for social media.”

Evidence was also provided on the negative impacts on mental health and behavior caused by social media.

“During a public hearing, Dr. Danielle Einstein questioned the mental health benefits of social media, expressing the opinion that any minor benefits, if present, are overshadowed by the drawbacks,” the report noted.

The advocacy group Catholic School Parents Western Australia raised concerns regarding the harmful effects of social media on behavior.

“Parents are concerned that children are becoming desensitized to certain content, leading to a distorted understanding of serious topics,” the group informed the inquiry.

On the other hand, the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee received several concerns about the bill.

Multiple submissions argued that there was insufficient scientific evidence supporting the claims of harm from social media.

In addition, UNICEF Australia warned that individuals under 16 may find ways to bypass restrictions, exposing them to unregulated and potentially dangerous online spaces.

“They argued that this undermines the effectiveness of the legislation and increases children’s online risk,” the committee observed.

Professors Marcus Carter, Taylor Hardwick, and Ben Egliston from the University of Sydney supported this argument, suggesting that some children may create adult accounts on social media platforms, heightening the risk of online harm.

The not-for-profit organization Pride in Swan expressed concerns that social media serves as a crucial support network for vulnerable youth in the LGBTQ+ community.

Dissenting Report

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan presented a dissenting report outlining various concerns, including the accelerated process that limited the involvement of Australians.

He acknowledged the receipt of 15,000 submissions on the bill within a 24-hour notice period, but he believed more detailed information was necessary.

“I support the proposal to amend the bill to exclude the use of Digital ID, but further clarification is needed,” Canavan stated.

“I believe there needs to be more clarity on whether the proposed amendment would completely eliminate the use of Digital ID or simply permit alternative methods of identification. Given the early stage of Digital ID development, all applications of Digital ID should be ruled out. The Parliament could revise the law in the future to allow the use of Digital ID if it becomes a widely accepted form of identification.”

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