Australian parents could see their personal social media accounts blocked or restricted if they allow their children to access them, officials from the nation's eSafety Commissioner have revealed. The admission came during a tense Senate hearing examining the impact of new laws banning under-16s from platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, set to commence on December 10.
Senate Clash Over Parental Rights and Platform Bans
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan pressed eSafety officials on whether children would still be able to watch YouTube videos via their parents' accounts after the ban takes effect. Heidi Snell, General Manager of Regulatory Operations at eSafety, initially suggested children could view content in a logged-out state or on a parent's account.
However, when Senator Canavan questioned if this could lead to his own account being blocked, Snell conceded the platforms "may restrict the rights of the user of the account." A stunned Canavan responded, "So if I was allowing my child as a parent to use my account to look at content, they'd block my account? That's a nightmare... There's no longer parental rights in this country."
Balancing Harm with Benefits: The Core Debate
The hearing highlighted a fundamental clash between protecting children and preserving family autonomy online. Senator Canavan argued the "draconian" law ignored the positive aspects of social media, sharing personal anecdotes of his family bonding over educational YouTube content on Roman history and rocket science. "I just don't understand. I get there's some harm, but you haven't fully captured the positive benefits," he told eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
Inman Grant defended the policy by citing stark data on online harms. She noted that of the 96% of 10- to 15-year-olds with a social media account, 70% have experienced harm online, with 40% of those incidents occurring on YouTube. She read from YouTube's own research, warning of risks including:
- Addiction
- Sedentary lifestyles and poor posture
- Decreased attention spans
- Sleep deprivation
- Rising anxiety and an increase in children seeking therapy
Legal Challenges and Wider Consequences
The new regime carries severe penalties for tech companies, with fines of up to $49.5 million for breaches. While parents and children themselves won't be fined, the requirement for all Australians to verify their age has sparked significant privacy concerns and warnings about potential phishing scams.
Opposition is mounting. The Digital Freedom Project, backed by two 15-year-olds, is taking a legal challenge to the High Court. They argue the ban violates the implied freedom of political communication, claiming it is a "grossly excessive" measure that excludes teens from vital forums for civic engagement.
Communications Minister Anika Wells remained defiant, stating, "We are taking on big tech and we will not be flinching." She also warned the government is prepared to designate further apps—such as Lemon8 or Yope—that children migrate to, indicating the crackdown could expand.
As the December 10 deadline approaches, Australian families are left navigating a new digital landscape where the rules of parental guidance are being fundamentally rewritten by the state.
