MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND SPORT ANIKA WELLS:  Thank you for joining us today during what is a busy week at the beginning of the 80th United Nations General Assembly High-level Week.

Much has changed since the UN was established 80 years ago. We now live in a rapidly digitising world, with the opportunities and challenges this brings. 

Protecting Children in the Digital Age is a challenge confronting the world, and this morning we gather to exchange ideas on how best we can tackle the issue of online harm. 

This is a vitally important conversation. Many of the world’s children are now growing up with technologies embedded in their lives. 

The internet is prevalent and powerful and there is clear evidence that digital technologies, in the wrong hands, can cause irreparable damage. 

At the end of the day, algorithms do not have a moral compass, and it is upon us to set guard rails to ensure the safety of children. 

Australia knows about the need to respond to this rising threat of online harm with decisive and comprehensive action - and that's exactly what we are doing. 

In 2024, Australia legislated a minimum age for social media with bipartisan support. The law puts the onus back on social media platforms to act with responsibility towards children. 

We want kids to know who they are before platforms assume who they are. We are on the side of families. We are on the side of kids