Australia’s eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant has again avoided endorsing a teen social media ban — despite being tasked by the government with enacting it — and will continue to help Australian teens who use social media after the ban comes into effect.
The tasks given to the government’s online safety tsar encapsulate the contradiction between the government’s ban and its existing suite of laws and regulations governing how tech platforms are required to keep young Australians safe online.
When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his government would restrict young Australians under the age of 16 from social media, he explicitly said the eSafety commissioner would play a key part in rolling out the ban. According to the ABC, Inman Grant will develop a framework for exemptions to the age ban, determine what it means to take “reasonable steps” to restrict young Australians, and administer penalties.
Inman Grant’s position as the ban’s regulator places her in an awkward position for someone who was originally appointed as the children’s eSafety commissioner in 2017. In the past seven years, the role has grown to encompass new responsibilities and powers under the 2021 Online Safety Act. These include powers to act on image-based abuse and to introduce the “basic online safety expectations” regulations — both relevant to young Australians’ social media use.
Additionally, the eSafety Commissioner’s Office produces resources for young Australians and adults about using social media and research about their experiences. This research appears to have partially formed the basis for Inman Grant’s advocacy for the benefits of social media and her lack of public support for the teen social media ban.
In June, when both Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton suggested their support for a ban, Inman Grant subtly rebuked the idea at a parliamentary committee hearing by comparing it to banning children from the ocean rather than teaching them to swim.
The eSafety commissioner’s response to the official announcement of the ban again avoided endorsing the policy. A media release welcomed “the government’s leadership on this issue” but only “acknowledged” the policy itself, signalling its lack of support. (In contrast, a May eSafety media release for the government’s age assurance trial “welcomes” the initiative.)
An eSafety spokesperson told Crikey that the office will continue to run its services “unchanged”, including its cyberbullying scheme and codes and standards, and will still produce education resources for young Australians.
“Even with the potential introduction of age restrictions, it’s essential that we continue supporting parents in playing an active role in their children’s online lives. Conversations between parents and children about online safety are irreplaceable, helping to set boundaries and address issues when they arise,” they said in an email.
“Ultimately, our mission is to ensure that young people are prepared for the future of technology, equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate the digital environment safely and confidently.”
