TA: Can Australia make social media safer for teens?

I have watched many policy debates rise and fade across the tech world. Few have created what I see right now around Australia's upcoming social media age law.

With the December 10 deadline approaching, the world is already calling it a ban. The government calls it a delay in access, the public calls it everything from necessary to outrageous, and no matter where you stand, this is a turning point. We can all agree on that.

I have been following the updates closely. I spent time reading the official eSafety guidance and the coverage from major outlets.

The conversation keeps expanding because it touches on a sensitive topic. It asks us how far we go to protect young people in a world where digital risks grow faster than our policies can keep pace.

Many leaders hesitate to comment because the topic brings strong reactions. I believe we need to talk about it. When technology reshapes our lives at this speed, silence only creates more confusion. And confusion leads to bigger fears.

Annika Wells, Australia's Communications Minister, said she is not intimidated by the big tech companies opposing her views in an interview with the BBC.

The full article was posted first in the publication "Tomorrow's Affairs" on December 7th, 2025

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