A former Liberal has slammed Australia’s world-first social media ban, questioning why teens can legally fly planes or fire a gun but can’t use TikTok, Snapchat or Facebook.
Ex-NSW Liberal whip Peter Phelps, 56, took to X on Friday to criticise the ban, comparing activities under-16’s are lawfully permitted to do in NSW with social media sites they won’t be allowed to use.
He claimed it showed the ‘hypocrisy of the pearl-clutchers’ who ‘scream’ about how dangerous social media is for kids.
‘Things you can do in NSW if you are under 16,’ he began his post.
‘Learn to fly an aeroplane; possess and use a firearm; drive at 80kph in a Go-Kart.
‘Captain any non-commercial boat up to 20 knots; Own a speargun for recreational fishing; Abseiling; Scuba diving.’
‘Join the Australian Army Cadet Corps; Drag racing; Change your sex.’
He then listed ‘things that you now can’t do: Twitter/X; Facebook; Instagram; TikTok.’
Many other Aussies seemed to agree with his sentiment.
‘So you can’t use social media to find the Abseiling, Scuba Diving events, but they can still do them? This legislation is unworkable,’ one woman commented.
‘When I was 16, I left my parent’s home, got a job, and rented a house. But thank God I couldn’t get a social media account,’ another said.
Some argued children would now have an far easier time accessing pornography than social media under the legislation.
‘They are also criminally responsible and can go to jail by 10… which in future will be for looking at TikTok no doubt, the way this country is dumbing itself down.’
One reader suggested adding running a business, having an ABN, working and paying taxes to the list.
However, not everyone agreed there was any hypocrisy at all, arguing the ban was supporting those activities.
‘They used to do all those things plus go out and be active until [the] street lights came on. Then along came Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok,’ one woman wrote.
‘With all those things they are able to do [it] just goes to show that they don’t need social media,’ another said.
‘Mostly under the supervision or discretion of an adult, mostly a qualified adult. That is the point, in case you missed it,’ one man said.
‘All of those things listed are mostly good for children. Social media is not,’ agreed another commenter.
‘But yet (less than) one per cent of kids under 16 are doing what you’ve listed in the top half and the other 99.9 per cent are on the bottom half. Get them offline and doing your top half list! Problem solved.’
Some saw a bit of both sides.
‘Most of those things under 16 year olds can do that you list are more worthwhile than social media, but I see your point,’ one wrote.
The social media bill passed the Senate on Thursday night and passed back through the lower house without issue on Friday morning.
The government has given technology companies a year to find suitable age-verification methods before the law takes effect at the end of 2025.
Production of the technology will fall to social media companies themselves, with $50million fines to be introduced for systemic breaches of the new rules.
Foreign governments have been watching Australia’s legislation and transpiring conflicts with tech giants including TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, Meta and X.
Legislators worldwide have speculated on how similar restrictions could be imposed in their own countries.
Human rights groups have said an outright ban wasn’t a proportionate response, and impinged on the rights of children, despite requirements to take action to secure their wellbeing.
Social media companies have criticised the laws as ‘rushed’ and difficult to enforce, going so far as to warn of unintended consequences on free speech.
‘This has been an issue that has (been) raised with me more, or at least as much as any other issue by people when I’m out and about,’ he told reporters on Friday.
‘We’ll work to make sure that it’s got right.
‘We don’t argue that its implementation will be perfect … but we know that it’s the right thing to do.’
The laws, which will come into effect from late 2025, will capture platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit and X (formerly Twitter).
But exemptions will apply for health and education services including YouTube, Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline and Google Classroom.
