Barbara Biggins OAM CF, is CMA’s Honorary CEO.

It’s been a busy year for those striving for a screen environment for children that is happier, healthier and more hopeful.

Here at Children and Media Australia we’ve researched and written, or contributed to, 11 submissions to a range of governmental and industry reviews and inquiries. Topics covered included social media controls; online safety issues; privacy provisions; revision of the Free TV Australia Code of Practice; sports betting ads; junk food advertising; and modernising the National Classification Scheme. Plus numerous consultations with government officers on some of these.

So what’s been the outcome?

To date, there’s been very little action on reforming Australia’s classification scheme to provide age-based classifications that would be so much more useful for parents. This review started way back in 2020, with that report not released till 2023, and more submissions called for in 2024.

There’s also very little government action being taken to reduce exposure to junk food ads by children.

There is at least now a proposed new Privacy Act; and the online Safety Act has been reviewed.  And the government has committed to legislating for a Duty of Care for consumers, to be placed on online platforms.

ACMA has expressed reservation about Free TV Australia’s big push to expand the M classification time zones on commercial TV stations. That’s good but there’s a whole lot more that needs to be improved in the Free TV Code of Practice.

A big downside is that the government has kicked the can down the road on curbing sports betting ads.

But a big bouquet for the government in passing the Online Safety Amendment Social Media Minimum Age) Bill. Here’s what we said (Letters, The Australian 30/11/24):

Social media are free, attractive and (in a sense) addictive.

The platforms’ persuasive design is what has kept children glued to screens and why parents have been having such a tough time trying to protect them from invasions of privacy, loss of essential sleep and physical activity, and risks of harm to their mental and physical health.

We know of the struggles of really responsible parents to push back against the lure of social media; to cope with children’s FOMO (fear of missing out); and to limit time with devices. The cry of “it’s the parents’ responsibility” doesn’t wash when contending with Big Tech’s techniques.

The government’s action in passing the Social Media Amendment Bill is warranted as a first step.

Next must be the imposition of a duty of care on all such platforms.

The digital space could then be healthier for all.