2024-11-18
A blunt age ban for social media is not the solution for tackling the toxic tech platforms, according to final report recommendations from the Joint Select Committee into Social Media and Australian Society tabled in Parliament today.
In additional comments, the Greens have called for tech giants to be prohibited from targeting, harvesting and selling the data of children as well as a Digital Services Tax to make the tech giants pay their fair share.
Deputy Chair of the JSC Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is Greens Communications Spokesperson, Senator for South Australia:
“For too long social media giants have made their billionaire owners rich, while failing to show any concern for the welfare and safety of the public. It’s time this changed, it’s time for social media to be socially responsible and properly regulated.
“The evidence is in and it’s clear that banning young people from YouTube is not the solution. You don’t make platforms safer by just locking young people out. This report is a call to action for our Parliament to stop the toxic tech giants damaging our democracy and targeting our kids.
“As parents, we are rightly worried about the safety of our kids which is why the Greens have called for the tech giants to be prohibited from collecting, selling and exploiting young people's data and privacy to make massive profits. Labor and Liberal should back this call.
“This report recommends what the Greens and experts have been calling for: EU-style guardrails and systemic measures to reduce the damage being done by poisonous algorithms that fuel division, damage democracy and target our kids with extreme content.
“We need to make these platforms safer for everyone by tackling the insidious business model that fuels division and harm.
“Whether you're a 14-year-old or a 64-year-old - these companies have a responsibility to provide a safe product to the community and that’s why a Digital Duty of Care is welcome and overdue.
“Users also need more choice: people should have the ability to turn down and opt out of unwanted content and extreme algorithms.
“The tech giants are making massive profits from the data of everyday Australians. We need to get on with an Australian version of a tech tax, or a Digital Services Tax, to ensure these corporations pay their fair share back to the communities they profit off. These are already in place in countries like France and Canada and we can do it here.
“Revenue could be invested in a range of public interest services including public interest journalism, mental health, and increased education around digital literacy.
“We also need the immediate release of the full Online Safety Act review.”
Greens additional comments, recommendations:
Recommendation 1
1.12 Immediate release of the Online Safety Act review.
Recommendation 2
1.13 Prohibit platforms from harvesting and exploiting the data of minors and protect young people from targeted, unsolicited advertisements and algorithms as a matter of priority, with a view for this to apply to all users in the long-term to protect all Australians’ safety and privacy.
Recommendation 3
1.14 Invest in education for young people and their families to help develop digital literacy and online safety skills, and equip them with the tools and resources they need for positive and responsible online use.
Recommendation 4
1.15 Consider implementing a digital services tax to ensure global giants pay their fair share back to the communities they profit off, similar to those implemented in countries like France and Canada.