Tech companies, including Snap and Meta, have criticized the bill for its lack of expert backing and potential to drive youth towards less regulated online spaces.

Feedback from young people in Queensland indicates feelings of exclusion from the legislative process, suggesting the bill unjustly penalizes youth while neglecting adult accountability.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has emphasized that the legislation aims to enhance safety for children on social media and support parental controls.

The proposed law would shift the responsibility for age verification from parents to social media platforms, imposing fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars for non-compliance.

During a Senate committee hearing, Sunita Bose acknowledged the industry's need for improvement in preventing underage access to social media.

The Australian government is pushing to enact strict legislation aimed at regulating children's access to social media, with plans to pass the bill by November 28, 2024.

Introduced in Parliament on November 19, 2024, the bill has faced criticism for allowing only one day for public submissions, raising concerns about the rushed legislative process.

X, formerly Twitter, has expressed concerns about the bill's legality, suggesting it may violate international human rights treaties.

The Tech Council of Australia has criticized the hurried legislative process, arguing it undermines investor confidence in the technology sector's regulatory environment.

Various organizations, including the Australian Child Rights Taskforce, have called for more thorough consultation on the complex issues surrounding youth social media access.

Officials from the communications department confirmed that an upcoming evaluation of age assurance technologies will assess their accuracy, security, and privacy settings.

Despite the government's push, critics argue that the legislation is being rushed through without adequate consultation, raising concerns about its effectiveness and implications.