Laws to curtail online bile can’t come at cost of legitimate anonymity claims

July 3, 2026 — 6:05am

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Social media has become a central part of our lives over the past 20 years. It has brought benefits, such as a sense of connectedness. It has also caused significant problems that threaten individuals and broader society. Increasing recognition of those challenges has prompted governments, including Australia’s, to embark on belated attempts at regulation.

The federal government’s social media ban for those aged under 16 was an attempt to reduce the potential harms of unfettered social media use, particularly for people whose age left them vulnerable. The proposed Digital Duty of Care laws, announced alongside the social media ban, are another. These would shift the platforms’ responsibility........

© The Sydney Morning Herald