TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and some of the other large social media players will not be able to escape a social media ban on users younger than 16.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland confirmed this morning none of the major social media companies would be exempted from the federal government's proposed ban, following concerns from the Coalition that they may be allowed off the hook.
"They won't be exempt, they're in a range which is called aged-restricted services as defined under the legislation, just as alcohol is an age-restricted product," Ms Rowland said.
"Let's be very clear here: there is no out for the platforms here … those commonly understood platforms like TikTok, X, Instagram, Facebook, they will all be age-restricted services."
The opposition says it wants to support a social media ban and have it passed into law before the end of the year.
The shadow communications minister David Coleman wrote to the prime minister asking for an assurance that the legislation would not provide an out for the most popular platforms, after the government indicated there would be ways for platforms to be exempted.
“[Opposition Leader Peter] Dutton and I have written to the prime minister to advise him of our view that products such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat are inherently unsafe for younger children," Mr Coleman said.
"If there is wriggle room in the laws, the social media platforms will fully exploit it. Providing exemptions will only weaken the laws that are desperately needed to protect young Australians from the harms of social media."
That letter warned "there should not be any scenario under the legislation where the major social media platforms can be exempted from the operation of the new laws".
Mr Coleman said he remained concerned that social media companies would simply develop new products like Meta's 'Instagram Teens' to evade the ban.
"The government cannot allow its exemptions framework to be used by TIkTok, Snapchat and Instagram to sneak in other versions of their platforms or products to get around age laws," he said in a statement.
"Those platforms have demonstrated that they are not safe places for children and should not be allowed to find other ways onto their screens.
"The minister must rule out giving TikTok, Snapchat or Instagram the opportunity to negotiate their way out of the law and into the devices of young Australians."
Ms Rowland confirmed the purpose of exemptions would be to allow for educational tools or mental health platforms to be carved out.
But she said it could also exempt dedicated youth platforms like YouTube Kids.
"YouTube is likely to fall within the scope of age-restricted services [but] YouTube Kids is a different product. Of course it would need to be balanced against a specific set of criteria," Ms Rowland said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed yesterday the government would seek to ban children and teenagers under 16 from social media, including those who already had accounts.
The onus for enforcing that would be placed on the social media giants, who the government and opposition say both have a duty to children that they are failing on.
Mr Albanese today met with state and territory leaders to win their support for the proposed legislation.
He said all but Tasmania were onboard with an age limit of 16, and while Tasmania would have preferred 14 the state had agreed in the interests of a unified national approach.