Australian federal communications minister Anika Wells has been recognized by Time magazine as one of the world's most influential rising stars for her leadership in implementing Australia's under-16 social media ban and challenging big tech companies. Her inclusion was supported by a testimonial from former prime minister Julia Gillard, who praised Wells for championing reforms to protect children from online harms. While Wells attributed the achievement to a collective government effort, opposition figures criticized the policy's effectiveness and the associated regulatory powers.
Anika Wells named on Time100 list as one of ‘world’s most influential rising stars’ after social media ban The federal communications minister, Anika Wells, has been named as one of Time magazine’s “world’s most influential rising stars” in recognition of her work on Australia’s under-16 social media ban and taking on big tech companies.
Wells’ inclusion on the Time100 list of “leaders who are shaping the future” is the latest recognition of the Australian government’s efforts to regulate big tech – but comes Wells was named alongside a testimonial written by former Labor prime minister, Julia Gillard, who praised the communications minister for having “championed world-leading reforms to protect young people from the harms of social media”.
“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,” Gillard wrote. “Even in the face of intense opposition from some of the world’s largest tech companies, she remains steadfast… Future generations will look back on her landmark changes as courageous and trail-blazing.
” Responding to her inclusion, Wells – who is also the minister for sport – told Guardian Australia: “In Brisbane we know premierships are won by the whole team, not one player. ”framework, as part of broader online safety reforms.
The changes would allow social media account holders to opt out of the algorithms pushing dangerous and divisive content into users’ feeds, which is alsoSarah Henderson, the shadow communications minister, said in a statement: “Australians don’t judge ministers by glossy magazine lists, they judge them by their actions”. She repeated criticisms of the social media ban, which she claimed had “failed”, as well as “draconian powers to control what Australians say and see online”.
Also named on the list are the musicians Sombr and PinkPantheress, the soccer player Folarin Balogun, the US senator Andy Kim, the Dutch prime minister Rob Jetten, and Donald Trump’s political advisor James Blair. Australian musician Troye Sivan was also included on the “influential rising stars” list, with a testimonial written by Kylie Minogue.
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