Dr Sophie Scamps’ bill to ban influencers from pushing junk food and viral drinks

Influencers will be banned from spruiking junk food and viral energy drinks on TikTok and Instagram under proposed laws to tighten food advertising targeting children.

Influencers will be banned from spruiking free junk food and viral energy drinks on TikTok and Instagram under proposed laws to tighten food advertising on social media.

Teal independent Dr Sophie Scamps will on Monday introduce a bill to parliament to protect children from junk food ads on platforms including TikTok and Instagram.

Dr Scamps’ bill will ban influencers from taking part in popular trends like “mukbangs”, where Tiktok and Instagram stars are sponsored by fast food giants to eat as much as they can on camera — and share the experience with their followers.

“Children are exposed to hundreds of ads a week on social media, and often we can’t even tell what they are seeing — but they are also exposed to influencers who are paid to promote stuff,” she said.

“When children are online they are being preyed upon while they are in their bedrooms or loungerooms in a very targeted way.”

Suzanne Burke says it’s getting harder to police what Asher, 10, and Owen, 8, see online. Picture: Christian Anstey

The bill will also aim to ban junk food advertising from TV and radio between the hours of 6am and 9.30pm.

The push comes as the government ramps up its focus on obesity and junk food, with Health Minister Mark Butler vowing to work with the states to get the nation’s waistlines under control.

“I am keen to ensure we are not just focusing on healthcare in Australia where we have a health system that is just dealing with illness,” Mr Butler said.

“Prevention is better than cure, and I don’t want this strategy to just fall by the wayside, I want it to deliver better health outcomes for Australians.”

Dr Sophie Scamps’ bill would ban junk food advertising from TV and radio between 6am and 9.30pm. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Forrestville mum-of-two Suzanne Burke said she was mortified that trends like energy drinks were being promoted by influencers directly to kids online.

“I have a eight-year-old and a 10-year-old, they have outgrown YouTube so they want to be on adult YouTube and that’s a lot harder to police,” she said.

“We are bombarded with junk foods and snack foods.

“A low nutritional lunch box has become the norm. That’s the bigger problem really.

“All this advertising makes kids think that’s what normal food is.”