JASON's OPINION POST — NEW SOCIAL MEDIA AGE RESTRICTION LAWS - AUSTRALIA
As a former AFP officer who worked in cybercrime, I can say this: on paper, Australia’s new social media age-restriction laws are a good idea.
In principle, they’re exactly the kind of intervention we’ve needed for a long time.
But my concern — based on real-world operational experience — is straightforward: how will this actually be enforced?
The legislation requires platforms to take “reasonable steps” to stop under-16s from having accounts. That sounds fine in theory, but anyone who has worked in this space knows the reality:
Kids are often more technically agile than the systems trying to contain them.
They know how to bypass age gates.
They know how to create backup accounts.
They know how to use VPNs and verification loopholes.
Some kids can do this before they’ve even learned basic maths.
And then there’s the platforms themselves.
For years, social media companies have prioritised growth and engagement over safety.
They’ve ignored systemic risks, allowed harmful content to spread, and relied on flimsy age-verification processes that investigators have been flagging as inadequate for more than a decade.
So while the government’s intention is absolutely right — and the developmental reasoning for delaying access is sound — the real challenge is getting global tech companies to genuinely comply.
But here’s where I take a firm view: education starts with the parent, not the child.
I’m a strong believer that digital literacy, boundaries, and online awareness must come from home first — not as an afterthought, not as a school assignment, and not left to chance.
Kids do not magically learn how to behave online.
They model what they see.
They rely on guidance, structure, and conversations.
And right now, a lot of that guidance simply isn’t happening.
Parents need support in this space just as much as kids do — because many adults don’t fully understand the risks either. Not the grooming patterns. Not the behavioural manipulation. Not the data-harvesting. Not the coercive tactics used online.
The law can restrict access, but it can’t replace a parent who’s actively involved, informed, and engaged.
And when parents aren’t equipped, kids walk into digital environments with no armour.
And enforcement isn’t just about stopping under-age users.
It’s also about ensuring:
• Platforms actually verify age in a meaningful and privacy-safe way
• Young people aren’t pushed into unregulated apps with zero safeguards
• Parents understand this isn’t a replacement for supervision
• Kids still feel safe reporting harm, even if they’re technically “too young” to be on the platform
• There is a clear compliance pathway if platforms ignore the law
The government has made it clear that children won’t be punished for slipping through the cracks — and that’s the correct approach. But it does mean the burden shifts heavily onto the platforms, and historically, they tend to act only when forced.
The reform is promising — but it cannot be the whole solution.
Without strong oversight, auditing, and consequences for non-compliance, age restrictions risk becoming another piece of legislation that looks good on paper but achieves little on the ground.
From my experience in cybercrime, meaningful protection comes from a combination of:
✔ Legislation
✔ Platform accountability
✔ Education and digital literacy
✔ Parents leading the education — not kids teaching themselves
✔ Clear reporting pathways
✔ Strong enforcement mechanisms
Australia is leading the world with this change — but leadership brings responsibility.
If we want this to work, we need more than legislation and good intentions.
We need practical enforcement, clear compliance standards, and a strategy that closes the inevitable loopholes before they turn into highways.
Because when it comes to online harm, exploitation, grooming, bullying, and manipulation, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when the system fails to protect young people.
The intention behind this reform is right.
Now the hard part is making sure it actually delivers on what it promises — and that parents are properly supported to play their role.
And this is where practical, real-world guidance becomes critical.
Most parents aren’t cybersecurity experts. They’re trying to navigate devices, apps, privacy settings, routers, parental controls, monitoring tools, and online behaviours that change faster than most people can keep up with. Many don’t even know where the real risks are — until something goes wrong.
This is an area where we can help.
At Regional Queensland Investigations, we regularly assist families with:
• Setting up safer internet environments
• Locking down devices and accounts
• Reviewing privacy and security settings
• Identifying hidden risks in apps and platforms
• Teaching parents how to recognise grooming, manipulation, and behavioural red flags
• Providing practical, tailored strategies to reduce harm before it occurs
It’s not about surveillance.
It’s not about restricting kids from being online.
It’s about equipping parents with the tools and knowledge they need to minimise risk and give their children a safer digital experience.
Technology won’t slow down.
Legislation will take time to bed in.
But empowering parents right now — today — is one of the strongest defences we have.
