Labor frontbencher Anika Wells has been named as part of Time magazine’s list of “the world’s most influential rising stars” for her role in Australia’s digital agenda.
The Federal Communications Minister was listed among global players for her work driving Australia’s social media ban for under-16s and the proposed digital duty of care framework.
Former Labor Prime Minister Julia Gillard described the digital detox agenda as “courageous and trail-blazing” in a penned testimony accompanying a photo of Ms Wells in the Time 100 edition.
Ms Gillard said in the face of “intense opposition from some of the world’s largest tech companies” that Ms Wells had “remains steadfast”.
“Future generations will look back on her landmark changes as courageous and trail-blazing,” Ms Gillard stated.
“As the world grapples with the extraordinary power of social media and the increasingly pervasive role it plays, Anika Wells has emerged as one of the most significant voices in a growing global movement to reframe the relationship between technology and the well-being of our children.
“As Australia’s Communications Minister, she has championed world-leading reforms to protect young people from the harms of social media.
“It has placed Australia at the centre of conversation on online safety, accountability, and the responsibilities of Big Tech.”
More than 20 other countries have either enacted, proposed or announced they’re now looking to replicate the policy which came into effect on December 10.
However, less than a year later the federal government sought to tighten rules and hike fines for tech giants not complying.
Ms Wells also faced significant backlash over her travel expenses when she joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to spruik the ban on the world stage at the UN General Assembly in 2025.
The Queensland MP had racked up a $120,000 travel expenses bill for herself and two staffers to attend the international forum in New York, which had been in September before the ban had even come into place.
While in the US, Ms Wells met with executives from Microsoft, Meta and Amazon and hosted a $69,000 event “Protecting Children in the Digital Age” alongside Mr Albanese.
eSafety had initially banned 10 platforms — YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, TikTok, Twitch, Snapchat, Reddit, and Kick.
Beyond the 10 apps eSafety identified to be included in the ban, a number of other companies admitted after self-assessments they too fall into the description.
It includes Bluesky, Yubo, Wizz, Lemon8, BigoLive, as well as dating services Tinder, Hinge, OKCupid, Plenty of Fish, Match.com and Azar.
Labor’s draft Digital Duty of Care aims to shift responsibility by putting the onus on platforms to create a safer environment online.
It will cover social media, search engines, AI chat bots, dating apps, gaming and messaging platforms, and pornography sites among other online services.
A draft released in September had been long-awaited after it was first recommended in 2024 by a review of Australia’s Online Safety Act under former communications minister Michelle Rowland.
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