Editorial: New laws to fight social media harm

The government’s announcement of social media laws is a good first step, but some believe there is more that can be done, writes the editor.

Day after day the horror stories about the shocking impact of social media keep rolling in.

From the psychological distress and bullying suffered by teens to the tragic link to suicides it is becoming increasingly clear more must be done to curb the dangerous influence and insidious reach of the tech giants.

It is for this reason the federal government’s moves announced yesterday to strengthen protections for children online should be applauded.

Under sweeping reforms to federal Basic Online Safety Expectation determination, which outlines the requirements for social media, tech companies will be forced to make the best interests of children the primary consideration in their platform design.

Critically, they will also be forced to reveal for the first time how many of their users are underage.

And the new laws will have some teeth.

Failure to comply with an esafety request for information will result in hefty fines.

“While governments and regulators around the world are grappling with addressing the many harmful impacts of social media, one thing is clear: it is imperative that industry be more transparent and accountable,” Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said during Question Time in parliament yesterday.

“Platforms need to do more to keep Australians safe.”

The important changes follow a relentless national campaign by The Courier-Mail and its sister mastheads around the country to bring to light the impact social media is having on the health of Australian children.

While Ms Rowland’s announcement yesterday is a good first step, some groups believe there is more the government can undertake.

Tilly Rosewarne

A pitch has been made to the Albanese government from a roundtable of eminent mental health experts to make the tech giants pay to help clean up some of the mess they have created.

The representatives from groups such as the Black Dog Institute and Beyond Blue are calling for a “sin tax” to be imposed on the highly profitable social media giants.

The idea is companies like Meta, Snap and TikTok would pay an additional 1 per cent on their Australian profits each year into a type of “trust fund” to even out some of the harm they have created.

Given that Meta and Snap together reported more than $1.2bn in profits in the 2021-22 financial year but paid the tax office as little as $31m, there appears to be more than a little room for them to direct some funds towards helping the mental health issues of an entire generation.

Emma Mason, mother of Tilly Rosewarne, who died by suicide at just 15 years old after relentless cyber-bullying over Snapchat, backed the proposal amid a “dire need” for more mental health facilities suitable for children and mental health professionals to support them.

“Tilly … was shoved in there with some really sick adults, and she was just petrified,” she said. “Yes, that money is needed but it needs to be spent in the right ways.”

While it is tragically too late for kids like Tilly, making the insanely profitable tech giants more accountable – legally, morally and financially – for the damage their platforms wreak might be a step toward helping future generations.

STATE SUFFERING GROWING PAINS

For those of us who live here it is totally understandable that Queensland is the top destination in Australia for interstate migration.

New data released officially today has revealed the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast are the top two hotspots for people wanting a fresh start.

But with the influx of sun-seekers from southern states comes the urgent need for proper infrastructure and appropriate planning.

Health chiefs yesterday issued a stark warning that medical services across the state could collapse under the weight of a surging population.

“Our members in regional Queensland are justifiably concerned that their patients are already waiting too long for elective surgery and outpatient appointments,” new Australian Medical Association Queensland president Nick Yim said.

The association is leading talks about how to recruit, train and retain healthcare workers in these areas to keep up with the growing demand.

It is vital that the government follows through with the funding to make it happen.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here