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src/content/an_actual_solution_to_the_social_media_ban.md

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-# An Actual Solution to the Social Media Ban
+Title: An Actual Solution to the Social Media Ban
+Date: 2025-09-16 20:00
+Modified: 2025-09-17 20:00
+Category: Politics
+Tags: politics, social meda, tech policy
+Slug: actual-social-media-solution
+Authors: Andrew Ridgway
+Summary: The Social Media ban is an abject failure of policy. I propose an actual technical solution that addresses the issues raised by the legislation and also ensures user privacy and data security through an opt in solution.
 
-The Australian Government recently announced it would be “watering down” the requirements of the upcoming legislation regarding online safety. The irony isn’t lost on anyone observing the situation. Specifically, the planned mandatory minimum “flag rate” for underage detection technology has been dropped – a clear indication that initial testing proved unachievable. Furthermore, the legislation now only requires tech companies to demonstrate “reasonable steps” to remove children from their platforms. 
+## The Toothless Legislation
+
+The Australian Government recently announced it would be “watering down” the requirements of the upcoming legislation regarding online safety. The irony isn’t lost on anyone observing the situation. Specifically, the planned mandatory minimum “flag rate” for underage detection technology has been dropped – a clear indication that initial testing proved unachievable. Furthermore, the legislation now only requires tech companies to demonstrate “reasonable steps” to remove children from their platforms.
 
 Let’s be frank: this legislation, as it stands, achieves very little. Experts in the field consistently warned that the approach was flawed and ignored industry input. The result? Parents are arguably in a worse position than before. The focus on punitive measures, rather than practical solutions, has been a misstep, and the relentless pursuit of this agenda by the eSafety Commissioner feels increasingly disconnected from reality.
 
@@ -14,8 +23,12 @@ Most people rely on the DNS provided by their Internet Service Provider (ISP) or
 
 This existing infrastructure offers a unique opportunity. The Chinese government has long leveraged DNS for its “Great Firewall,” demonstrating its capability for large-scale internet control. While that application raises obvious concerns, the underlying technology itself isn’t inherently malicious.
 
+<img alt="Current DNS" height="auto" width="100%" src="{attach}/images/dns_currently.png">
+
 My proposal is straightforward: the Australian Government could establish a large-scale DNS server within the Communications Department. This server could be configured to redirect requests to specific websites – like Facebook or TikTok – to an internal service that requires some form of authentication or identity verification. Once verified, the request would then be forwarded to the correct IP address.
 
+<img alt="Optional Government DNS" height="auto" width="100%" src="{attach}/images/optional_gov_dns.png">
+
 This DNS server could be *optionally* configured on any router, with ISPs assisting less technically inclined customers. The result? Access to certain websites from that router would require passing through the government’s age verification process.
 
 The authentication could be managed by an adult in the household, providing a valid identity document to establish a secure connection. Mobile phones could also be updated by manufacturers to incorporate this DNS setting.
@@ -29,6 +42,3 @@ This approach also avoids the need to collect and store sensitive identity data
 Furthermore, the eSafety Commissioner could easily update the list of websites subject to verification, providing a flexible and responsive system. It wouldn’t cover the entire internet, of course, but it would provide a valuable safety net for those who need it.
 
 Now that the government has acknowledged the shortcomings of its initial approach, it’s time to explore real solutions. A government-run, family-friendly DNS system that routes certain domain names to a verification process is a solid starting point for a genuinely effective technical solution to help families navigate the online world.
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