Australia Proposes New Social Media Rules as US Voices Calls for Nonprofit Platform Model

The Australian government is moving forward with a set of measures aimed at curbing harms on social media. Proposed actions include a ban on users under 16, a Digital Duty of Care that would require platforms to prevent risks before they occur, and rules targeting anonymous accounts that are linked to coordinated harassment and misinformation. Minister for Communications Anika Wells says users will not be forced to present government ID, and platforms must provide reasonable alternatives for anonymity.

In the United States, commentators are urging a different approach: creating a nonprofit social‑media platform that would direct advertising revenue toward scientific research and public‑good projects. The proposal argues that a fraction of the billions earned by companies such as Meta could fund research, replace cuts to federal grant programs, and support hundreds of thousands of high‑skill jobs. Both discussions highlight a growing debate over how to balance online safety, free expression, and economic incentives in the digital age.