Tech Mirror

This is episode 3 of a 5-part Tech Mirror mini-series, Australia vs Social Media: Inside the world-first online safety experiment. In this episode, we make sense of the Social Media Minimum Age legislation, explaining the limits of the law and what it actually requires of social media companies, young people, parents, and the community. We also unpack how this new law interrelates with other existing online safety measures, including industry codes.  We speak with Cam Wilson from Crikey, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, Australia's Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind, and Deputy Program Director of the Age Assurance Technology Trial Andrew Hammond.   Links:  Minister Wells Press Conference (16 September 2025), supplied.   Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, including the explanatory memorandum and transcripts of all second reading speeches https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7284  Government announces plans to introduce the minimum age legislation (8 November 2024), Minimum age for social media access to protect Australian kids https://www.pm.gov.au/media/minimum-age-social-media-access-protect-australian-kids & https://anthonyalbanese.com.au/media-centre/social-media-ban   Social media reforms to protect our kids online pass Parliament (29 November 2024) https://alp.org.au/news/social-media-reforms-to-protect-our-kids-online-pass-parliament/  eSafety Commissioner Advice to the Minister for Communications on draft Online Safety Rules (June 2025) https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/esafety-commissioner-advice-minister-communications-draft-online-safety-rules   Albanese Government protecting kids from social media harms (July 2025) https://www.pm.gov.au/media/albanese-government-protecting-kids-social-media-harms   Prime Minister and Minister for Communications media conference, Canberra (July 2025) https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wellseSaeft/transcript/press-conference-parliament-house-canberra  Online Safety (Age-Restricted Social Media Platforms) Rules 2025 https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2025L00889/latest/text   eSafety Commissioner’s regulatory guidance https://www.esafety.gov.au/industry/regulatory-guidance#social-media-minimum-age   Minister for Communications and eSafety Commissioner’s media conference (September 2025) https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wells/transcript/press-conference-sydney  Privacy Guidance on Part 4A (Social Media Minimum Age) of the Online Safety Act 2021 (October 2025) https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-legislation/related-legislation/social-media-minimum-age   Platforms on notice to comply with Social Media Minimum Age, via eSafety Commissioner (November 2025) https://www.esafety.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/platforms-on-notice-to-comply-with-social-media-minimum-age  Social media minimum age platform assessments, Minister for Communications media release (November 2025) https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wells/media-release/social-media-minimum-age-platform-assessments & https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wells/transcript/press-conference-canberra-0  Press Conference: Social Media minimum Age Platform Assessments, Minister for Communications media release (November 2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9CIZK_12Zc   eSafety assesses Twitch as an age restricted social media platform (November 2025) https://www.esafety.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/twitch-assessed-as-age-restricted-social-media-platform   https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/11/21/katherine-deves-legal-challenge-teen-social-media-ban/ Office of the eSafety Commissioner’s industry codes and standards https://www.esafety.gov.au/industry/codes   Age Assurance Technology Trial https://ageassurance.com.au/   Age Assurance Technology Trial— Final Report https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/age-assurance-technology-trial-final-report   Credits  Written and narrated by Johanna Weaver, Executive Director, Tech Policy Design Institute.  Produced by Olivia O’Flynn & Kate Montague, Audiocraft.  Research by Amy Denmeade.  Original music by Thalia Skopellos.  Created on the lands of the Ngunnawal, Ngambri people and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.   Special thanks to all the team at the Tech Policy Design Institute, without whom the pod would not be possible, especially Zoe Hawkins, Meredith Hodgman, and Dorina Wittmann. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is episode 2 of a special 5-part Tech Mirror mini-series, Australia vs Social Media: Inside the world-first online safety experiment.   In this episode, we discuss how the issue of social media harms and the idea of a minimum age restriction became such a political hot topic in the lead up to the 2024 Federal election. We explore the political, social and media forces that lead to the law passing Parliament, notwithstanding reservations of experts.   We speak to Cam Wilson, a technology reporter from Crikey, Lizzie O’Shea (founder and chair of Digital Rights Watch), Professor Amanda Third (co-director of the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University), Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, and Australia's Privacy Commissioner, Carly Kind.  Links:   Cam Wilson, Crikey https://www.crikey.com.au/author/cam-wilson/  Lizzie O’Shea https://lizzieoshea.com/   Digital Rights Watch https://digitalrightswatch.org.au/   Amanda Third https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/young-and-resilient/people/directors/amanda_third  Julie Inman Grant https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/about-the-commissioner  Carly Kind https://www.oaic.gov.au/   Minister Wells Speaking during Parliament House Question Time (31 July 2025) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcLpm9SbOrk  ABC News Breakfast (29 November 2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niaeYxdlvkw  The Project, 10X Media Group/Network Ten (19 May 2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=525CiA19WPI   36 Months campaign https://www.36months.com/  Let Them Be Kids campaign https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/topics/let-them-be-kids  Social Media Summit, NSW & South Australia, October 2024  https://www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/social-media-summit &  https://www.dpc.sa.gov.au/responsibilities/social-media-summit     Report by Chief Justice Robert French, Legal Examination into Social Media Access for Children https://www.premier.sa.gov.au/media-releases/news-archive/banning-social-media-for-children  Government response to the Privacy Act Review Report (September 2023) https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/publications/government-response-privacy-act-review-report  eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant’s speech at the Royal Society of NSW, W x 3 — The World Wide Web (we weaved)! (July 2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSFVrIugy3E  Laws not bans can make kids safer online, Carly Kind, Privacy Commissioner (November 2024) https://www.oaic.gov.au/news/blog/laws-not-bans-can-make-kids-safer-online  Prime Minister and Minister for Communications media conference (November 2024) https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/rowland/speech/press-conference-parliament-house  Social Media Age Limit, Office of Impact Analysis (November 2024) https://oia.pmc.gov.au/published-impact-analyses-and-reports/social-media-age-limit   Social media: the good, the bad, and the ugly – Final report, from the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society (November 2024) https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Social_Media_and_Australian_Society/SocialMedia  Statutory Review of the Online Safety Act 2021, led by Delia Rickard, released February 2025 https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/rowland/media-release/report-online-safety-act-review-released   Environment and Communications Legislation Committee inquiry into the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 [Provisions] (November 2025) https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/SocialMediaMinimumAge   Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, including the explanatory memorandum and transcripts of all second reading speeches https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7284   Credits  Written and narrated by Johanna Weaver, Executive Director, Tech Policy Design Institute.  Produced by Olivia O’Flynn & Kate Montague, Audiocraft.  Research by Amy Denmeade.  Original music by Thalia Skopellos.  Created on the lands of the Ngunnawal, Ngambri people and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.   Special thanks to all the team at the Tech Policy Design Institute, without whom the pod would not be possible, especially Zoe Hawkins, Meredith Hodgman, and Dorina Wittmann. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 5-part Tech Mirror mini-series, Australia vs Social Media, we’re exploring Australia's world first online safety experiment. Across five episodes, we’ll unpack the new social media minimum age restriction law, examine the harms it seeks to prevent, consider the controversy surrounding its passage through parliament in November 2024, and try to demystify what will happen on 10th December when it comes into effect.  In this first episode, we’re going to go back to the beginning and dig into the research – and different perspectives - on the harms caused to young people by their use of social media platforms. Why are the experts divided? And does the evidence back-up the concerns of parents and young people?   The series is narrated by Tech Policy Design Institute Executive Director, Johanna Weaver. This episode features expert interviews with Professor Jonathan Haidt (social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation), clinical psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein, Professor Amanda Third (co-director of the Young and Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University), Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, and Minh Hoang, member of the eSafety Youth Council.  Links:  Tech Policy Design Institute https://techpolicy.au   Jonathan Haidt https://jonathanhaidt.com/  The Anxious Generation https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-anxious-generation-9781802063271  Danielle Einstein (Author of The Dip, the Einstein Report & Co-author of Raising Anxiety) https://www.danielleeinstein.com/  Amanda Third https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/young-and-resilient/people/directors/amanda_third  Julie Inman Grant https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/about-the-commissioner   ABC News Breakfast (29 November 2024):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niaeYxdlvkw  'For the good of...' Australian Government Social media minimum age TV advertisement https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/campaign  Australian Child Rights Taskforce open letter (October 2024) https://au.reset.tech/news/open-letter-about-social-media-bans/   Office of the eSafety Commissioner’s research findings summary: Social Media Minimum Age campaign (September 2025) https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/campaign#research-findings-summary--social-media-minimum-age-campaign  YouGov poll (November 2024) Support for under-16 social media ban soars to 77% among Australians https://au.yougov.com/politics/articles/51000-support-for-under-16-social-media-ban-soars-to-77-among-australians  Credits  Written and narrated by Johanna Weaver, Executive Director, Tech Policy Design Institute.  Produced by Olivia O’Flynn & Kate Montague, Audiocraft.  Research by Amy Denmede.  Original music by Thalia Skopellos.  Created on the lands of the Ngunnawal, Ngambri people and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.   Special thanks to all the team at the Tech Policy Design Institute, without whom the pod would not be possible, especially Zoe Hawkins, Meredith Hodgman, and Dorina Wittmann. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Australia passed its world-first law setting a minimum age for social media, the headlines were global - but the experts were divided. In this Tech Mirror mini-series, we unpack the harms the law seeks to prevent, trace how young people’s use of social media became a flashpoint in the lead-up to the 2025 Federal Election, and explain what the legislation actually requires of social media platforms. We demystify what will happen when the law comes into force on 10 December, and explore what needs to happen next - as Australian (rightly) start to demand more from tech companies and from our politicians.  Across five episodes, Tech Policy Design Institute Executive Director Johanna Weaver speaks with the people directly involved in Australia’s world first online safety experiment  - from psychologists and policymakers to reporters and regulators - including Julie Inman Grant, Professor Jonathan Haidt, Dr Danielle Einstein, Professor Amanda Third, Carly Kind, Cam Wilson, Minh Hoang, Lizzie O’Shea, Andrew Hammond, and Gina Cass-Gottlieb. Listen to the trailer now and subscribe for the full series wherever you get your podcasts. Credits Written and narrated by Johanna Weaver, Executive Director, Tech Policy Design Institute.
Produced by Olivia O’Flynn & Kate Montague, Audiocraft.
Research by Amy Denmede.
Original music by Thalia Skopellos.
Created on the lands of the Ngunnawal, Ngambri people and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.
Special thanks to all the team at the Tech Policy Design Institute, without whom the pod would not be possible, especially Zoe Hawkins, Meredith Hodgman, and Dorina Whittmann. Links Tech Policy Design Institute: https://techpolicy.au/podcast 
Follow us on LinkedIn: Tech Policy Design Institute See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer at the Center for Humane Technology, Casey Mock joins Johanna for a discussion on incentives for building safer and more humane technology. Casey and Johanna discuss designing platforms for people and not just profit, how to realign incentives in tech using the well-established concept of legal liability, what to expect from a Trump administration in regards to tech policy, creative ways to overcome legal logjams, and how – contrary to popular belief – clear liability legislation empowers innovation. They also explore Australia’s under 16 social media ban, different approaches globally to tackle similar issues, and Australia’s reputation internationally on tech legislation. Key Links: Check out the Centre for Humane Technology’s ‘Framework for Incentivizing Responsible Artificial Intelligence Development and Use’ here: https://www.humanetech.com/insights/framework-for-incentivizing-responsible-artificial-intelligence Connect with Casey Mock on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseymock/ Keep up to date with the Tech Policy Design Centre:
https://techpolicydesign.au/news-and-events     df38c0e88ec90c97b48702fba836c2d8350d141eSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angie Abdilla, Professor and the ANU School of Cybernetics, founder of Old Ways, New, and co-author of the Indigenous Protocols for Artificial Intelligence, joins Johanna for an exploration of Indigenous Knowledge and the lessons we can all draw from it. Angie and Johanna talk about the value of viewing technology, science, and engineering through a non-western worldview, Indigenous Knowledge systems and Deep Time technologies, Country Centred Design Practices, the Closing the Gap reforms and how they relate to Indigenous data sovereignty, and some of Angie’s recent projects around AI They explore the similarities between well managed AI and Indigenous Knowledge systems with their shared focus on trust, transparency, responsibility, and best practices. Read Out of the Black Box: Indigenous Protocols for AI: https://www.anat.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Out-of-the-Black-Box_Indigenous-protocols-for-AI.pdf Find your nearest display of Meditation on Country: https://isea2024.isea-international.org/meditation-on-country/ Old Ways, New: https://www.oldwaysnew.com/ Tech Policy Design Centre: https://techpolicydesign.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taiwan’s inaugural Digital Minister, Audrey Tang, and author and founder of RadicalxChange Glen Weyl, join Johanna for an in-depth conversation on utilising technology to reduce division,improve governance, and regulate and the speed of innovation Audrey and Glen share their inspiring stories of grass-roots political action turned tech revolution and speak about Australia’s unique democratic inventiveness, their experiences unifying groups of people through new types of social media, opposing foreign state actors, prebunking misinformation, building bridges between diverse political positions, and making democracy quicker and more representative - all while keeping pace with rapid technological development. They share their thoughts on the future of AI, open source vs closed source, accountability, steerability, and explainability, and the value of developing technology as public infrastructure. Read Plurality: The Future of Collaborative Technology and Democracy here: https://www.plurality.net/ Connect with RadicalxChange: https://www.radicalxchange.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brendan Dowling Australia's Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology is Johanna's guest for this episode of Tech Mirror. Join them as they unravel the complexities of cyber diplomacy and Australia’s role in shaping tech policy on the global stage.   The pair explore the intricacies of international tech alliances, the challenges, and motivations of attributing cyber threats—including Australia's recently attribution of APT40 to China—and the impact of recent cyber sanctions against Russian citizens. They also discuss the implications of the CrowdStrike global tech outage, including what it might mean for the future of regulation of enterprise software. They discuss the importance of public-private partnerships, and Australia's regional efforts in cyber capacity building.   Attribution of APT40: https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/view-all-content/alerts-and-advisories/apt40-advisory-prc-mss-tradecraft-in-action Cyber Sanctions Against Russia: https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/media-release/cyber-sanction-imposed-russian-citizen-ransomware-activity Australia Cyber and Critical Tech  Cooperation Program: https://www.dfat.gov.au/international-relations/themes/cyber-affairs-and-critical-technologyinternational-cyber-and-critical-technology-capacity-buildingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carly Kind assumed her role as Privacy Commissioner in February this year. In this episode of Tech Mirror, Commissioner Kind and Johanna traverse:  

• what motivated Carly to accept the role (hint: it’s an exciting time in privacy in Australia)
• how the reinstated role of Privacy Commissioner works within the broader Office of Australia Information Commissioner (OAIC)
• Carly’s hopes for the privacy reform package to be introduced in parliament in August
• the role of OAIC as privacy regulator of Digital Identify
• the importance of protecting biometric data, including facial recognition
• the process and outcome of OAIC’s TicToc inquiry, and Carly’s ongoing concerns about pixel tracking
• privacy and Artificial Intelligence (of course); and
• the importance of privacy rights as a check and balance on power.

  Links:

• Tech Policy Atlas: https://techpolicydesign.au/tech-policy-atlas
• Research: Cultivating Coordination: https://techpolicydesign.au/report-tending-the-tech-ecosystem

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frances Haugen came to the world’s attention in 2021 as a whistle-blower, after filing a series of complaints about Facebook (now Meta) with the U.S. Federal Government about the harms caused by their business practices. She now works to champion accountability, transparency, and driving social media for the common good. In this new episode of Tech Mirror, TPDC Director Professor Johanna Weaver and Frances Haugen cover a lot of ground discussing topics including: - the importance of whistle-blower protections - recognising linguistic diversity in online safety - the power of collective action, amongst both communities and middle powers like Canada and Australia - mechanisms of transparency - building independent ecosystems of accountability - elections, democracy and disinformation - artificial intelligence and the limits of nuclear analogies - AND what it takes to change the world


Relevant Links:

Frances Haugen https://www.franceshaugen.com/ Beyond the Screen https://www.beyondthescreen.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.