Tech Won't Save Us How Effective is Australia’s Social Media Age Limit? w/ Cam Wilson
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Dec 18, 2025 Cam Wilson, associate editor at Crikey and co-author of 'Conspiracy Nation,' dives into Australia's new social media age limit. He discusses the law requiring platforms to block accounts for users under 16 and the swift political push behind it. Cam highlights early circumventions by teens and the effectiveness of enforcement measures. He critiques the missed opportunity for a more nuanced regulatory approach and emphasizes the need for better design in online experiences. His insights reveal essential lessons for other countries considering similar regulations.
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Australia's New Social Media Legal Baseline
- Australia legally requires platforms to take reasonable steps to stop under-16s from having accounts on designated social platforms.
- The law names major platforms and gave them a 12-month lead-in with fines for systemic failure up to $50 million.
Mainstream Media Drove The Campaign
- Media campaigns backed by News Corp and a radio-host group pushed the age-16 idea and mobilized mass public support on change.org.
- Those mainstream media campaigns used emotional stories and simple messaging to rapidly influence political commitment.
The 'Waterfall' Age‑Verification System
- Platforms are using a waterfall of methods: data inference, biometric age estimation, then government ID upload when needed.
- Governments advised less-intrusive checks first, reserving ID upload as a last resort to reduce privacy harms.