The eSafety Commissioner’s stinging criticism of Labor’s design of the social media ban is further evidence of another policy fail by the Albanese government.
With an estimated 70 per cent of teenagers circumventing the ban, Julie Inman-Grant’s damning appraisal shows, once again, that Communications Minister Anika Wells is not up to the job.
Ms Inman-Grant told Sydney Morning Herald journalist Jacqueline Maley, over a lunch of beef cheek pappadelle and swordfish, that the ban was “a very blunt force approach” which was developed “very quickly”.
In comments which filleted the competence of Anika Wells, the eSafety Commissioner said the ban was “very thin scaffolding” which did not provide her with “potent powers”, adding “I was not really keen on it when it was first discussed.” She went on to say:
“…this is a very blunt force approach … if we are going to make these platforms safer, we have to take a holistic approach.”
“What you’re effectively asking us to do with this is fence the ocean. We might be able to create some friction and some degree of safety but it’s a futile exercise if you think you’re totally stemming the ocean.”
“Well, if you’re going to take on the biggest technology companies in the world … it’s not like you’re sticking a pink parking ticket on a windshield.
“What I would say is a regulator is only as good as the tools and the resources that they’re given.”
These are not the comments of a regulator confident she has been given a workable implementation framework by the minister.
Not only do they undermine Anika Wells’ claim in January that “…early figures are showing this law is making a real, meaningful difference,” they indicate a deteriorating relationship between the eSafety Commissioner and the minister.
Implementation of the policy by Anika Wells has been flawed and chaotic. We’ve seen platforms added at the last moment, confusion over the definition of an age-restricted social media platform, and widespread reports of circumvention of age verification.
The online safety of children is of critical importance. It is deeply regrettable that Labor’s poor design and implementation of the social media ban have badly let down so many Australian parents and their children.
Australian families deserve better than a minister who claims credit while leaving the regulator to explain why these laws are not working as they should.
Editor’s note: updated 7.57pm 2 June 2026.