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Tech · Social media age limits

Toughen enforcement of the under-16 social media rules — back it or block it?

This bill strengthens enforcement of Australia's social media minimum age. Labor says the age rules are world-leading — the UK has announced it will copy the model. The Coalition supported a second reading but moved an amendment calling the scheme poorly designed and badly implemented, and the promised digital duty of care ill-defined. The debate ran more than three hours across the day and was interrupted by the adjournment — no vote yet.

🗳 A public mood-check, not a scientific poll. Vote to see where the room stands.
🗳 2 voted🏛 3h 32m debated
In progress · before its first chamber

⚖ The case each way

For · Government (Labor)Ms Briskey: the age rules are world-leading — the UK says it will build its own ban on "the same model" — and this bill strengthens enforcement so the scheme keeps giving children their childhood back.
Critical · CoalitionMrs McIntosh (second-reading amendment): the age restrictions were poorly designed and badly implemented, this bill is an admission of that, the digital duty of care remains ill-defined, and parents still lack effective device-safety tools against addictive algorithms.
CrossbenchMs Chaney: the internet's promise has been overwhelmed by its harms — abuse material, bullying, radicalisation — so stronger enforcement of protections for children is worth getting right.
Day by day
· House
Main debate — second reading (in progress)
House · in progress
📄 Hansard, 30 June 2026
· House
Main debate — second reading
House · recorded
📄 Hansard, 1 July 2026
· House
Final vote — third reading
House · recorded
📄 Hansard, 1 July 2026
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