New Online Legislation: What Will It Mean for Everyday Australians?

By now, you’ve likely seen the headlines about the new Online Safety laws, introduced under the premise of protecting children by banning anyone under 16 from using social media. On the surface, the idea of keeping children safe online is hard to argue with. But scratch beneath that surface and the legislation looks less about safety and far more about control — a soft introduction to digital ID.

The Online Safety Act 2021 came into effect in January 2022. From December 2025, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat will be required to enforce age restrictions, ensuring under-16s cannot hold accounts or face fines of nearly $50 million. While the government says “it’s the companies, not you, being fined,” the practical reality is different. To prove you’re over 16, some form of age verification will be required. That likely means ID checks, scans, or biometrics — and while Digital ID isn’t officially mandated, the infrastructure being built for “age assurance” looks a lot like a stepping stone to it.

There are also questions around scope and interpretation. Vague definitions of what constitutes “harmful” or “abusive” content create uncertainty for both users and platforms. Depending on how regulators interpret the law, the net could extend well beyond traditional social media — to messaging apps, forums, or even online communities. While exemptions do exist for some educational and messaging services, the flexibility in the definitions means future amendments could significantly widen the reach. History suggests regulatory frameworks tend to expand, not contract.

In the short term, parents may find their children lose access to online communities they’ve grown up with. More broadly, adults will likely be asked to verify their identity before accessing certain platforms. While participation remains voluntary in theory, digital access is becoming increasingly contingent on ID verification. This raises reasonable concerns about the precedent being set — particularly when it comes to who can engage in public discourse and under what conditions.

This is not just a proposal — it’s law, passed by Parliament in late 2024 and taking effect from December this year. Platforms face substantial penalties for non-compliance, and in such regulatory environments, companies tend to take conservative, risk-averse positions. The likely result: increased data collection, more ID checkpoints, and less privacy for all users.

While the law is framed as a child safety measure, the implications reach further — into the broader issues of privacy, personal agency, and the balance between safety and freedom in digital life. Once ID-based access becomes standard online, it may be difficult to reverse.

Australians do have options. Users can choose platforms that don’t require ID, seek out independent forums, or simply stay informed and contribute to the public conversation. Importantly, open debate ensures that such legislation receives the scrutiny it deserves — rather than quietly becoming part of the digital landscape.

This conversation has always been larger than TikTok or cyberbullying. Those challenges can and should be addressed through education and existing frameworks. At its core, this is about the direction of digital life in Australia — and whether participation in online spaces will require constant verification of who we are. The response so far suggests growing public concern. Whether that concern translates into action remains to be seen.

As regulation evolves and digital verification becomes more embedded in both communication and finance — particularly with the emergence of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) — physical bullion offers a simple, time-tested advantage: ownership without counterparty risk. Gold, silver and platinum exist outside digital systems, retain intrinsic value, and crucially, can’t be diluted by new issuance. For many investors, that makes them not just a hedge against inflation, but a complement to a diversified portfolio in an increasingly digital world.

For a deeper dive, pick up a copy of Citizen One: The Case Against Digital Identity — available in our Brisbane, Gold Coast and Melbourne offices.