The Australian government is debating some exclusions to its new law with the aim of barring Australian users under the age of 18 from social media for companies that can demonstrate that they pose very little threat to young people. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland is expected to reveal changes to the Online Safety Act that would relocate the power to enforce the restriction of content to social media apps from kids and parents, enhancing the legislation.

At a social media conference where the New South Wales and South Australian governments will be present, Rowland will state that the federal Labor party is thinking about an “exemption system” for social media services that pose little threat to children. The idea is to encourage the digital platforms to develop the age-appropriate version of their applications which can let the younger generation continue to use social media like Meta’s newly created accounts for teens on Instagram.

Many of the specified changes are expected to be implemented over the next year, which is sufficient time for the industry as well as the regulators to institute all the required systems and procedures. Subsequently, a review will evaluate the extent to which those changes have a positive impact on accomplishing the intended goals of Australians. Rowland emphasized that the strategic aim is straightforward: social media should, therefore, be able to perform some form of social responsibility.

Mr. Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister has said that the reforms which is seek to help parents and young Australians who are genuine about being harmed by social media. While he admitted that the change of such tendency would be challenging, he underlined the government’s definite willingness to provide teenagers with more secure internet experience.

The push for a national ban on social media for children received a boost from South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and other states and territories. Last week, only the prime minister contacted other leaders of states and territories to learn their views on the age of the social media ban and whether they should allow for the existing account holders.

However, the proposed ban has stirred criticism from the pundits and other stakeholders in youth, mental health and law, among others. More than 120 specialists and scholars supported the open letter claiming that ban is “too imprecise an approach to address the attached risks.”

Another opponent of the ban is Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Andrew Barr, for whom it would not make any sense to exclude today’s teenagers from social media and only let them come back in a year or two. He outlined changes that perhaps might enable existing users to switch to the accounts for teenagers.

Specifically, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns was quick to state that people below the proposed age limit will not be banned from social media when the ban is implemented since they are already included therein. This means that a 14-year-old today will be able to access social media, but the individual who becomes 14 years old the very day the legislation is passed will not.

As the government continues to develop policies to reduce access to social networks for children, the goal stays on the search for the optimal solution that may prevent young users from getting harmed but will not hinder access to social networks, being a significant part of their lives. The proposed framework for exemption and the focus on platform responsibility shows that the problems of using social networks by children and teenagers in Australia are considered comprehensively.