When Australia passed its world-first law setting a minimum age for social media, the headlines were global – but the experts were divided.
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 means. We ask what will happen on 10 December, when the law comes into force, and explore what next to happen next as we 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
Original music by Thalia Skopellos.
Created on the lands of the Ngunnawal, Ngambri people and the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.
Links
Tech Policy Design Institute: https://techpolicy.au/podcast
Follow us on LinkedIn: Tech Policy Design Institute
Transcript
Johanna:Well, listeners, you asked for it. Tech Mirror is back with a new five part miniseries from the Tech Policy Design Institute that investigates Australia’s looming social media age restrictions with the date of implementation.
Fast approaching, we’ll examine the harms that the so-called ban is seeking to prevent the political and public pressure that drove it, what the Lord does. And doesn’t cover. And what is gonna happen on the 10th of December when we wake up and the law is in force? Will it work? And what needs to happen next?
Subscribe to Tech Mirror on your favorite podcast app as we reflect on the policy that is reshaping young Australians relationship with technology. Or visit us at Tech Policy au slash podcast. Episodes dropping soon.