It’s easy to forget just how much of our lives we put online, especially when we’re younger. From random posts on social media to photos, videos, and comments, much of what we share as teens remains online, even after we’ve moved on. But what if you had the right to go back and erase that digital past?
That’s exactly what the Australian government is working toward. Through its proposed Online Privacy Code for children and young people—part of a major reform to the Privacy Act 1988—Australia wants to give under-18s more control over their data. This includes the right to request the deletion of content, stricter rules on how tech companies collect and use kids’ data, and stronger enforcement of privacy standards. It’s a significant step toward helping young people navigate the challenges of growing up in the digital age.
Growing Up Online Comes with a Price
Most of us have grown up with phones in our hands. Whether it’s Snapchat, Instagram, or TikTok, we’ve been sharing pieces of our lives online for as long as we can remember. But the truth is, teens don’t always realize the long-term consequences of their online behavior. Something posted as a joke at 14 can easily come back to haunt you when applying for a job, internship, or even university.
A 2020 survey by CareerBuilder found that 70% of employers screen candidates through their social media presence before making hiring decisions. That means one bad post could cost someone an opportunity, sometimes without them even knowing it.
Worse, once something is online, it’s incredibly hard to delete. Even if you take it down from your account, someone might’ve already screenshotted it, shared it, or saved it to a different platform. This is where Australia’s new privacy rules could make a difference.
Australia’s New Move Toward Online Privacy
The Australian government is updating its privacy laws to reflect the realities of the digital world teens now live in. At the heart of the reform is a Children’s Online Privacy Code that targets companies and platforms that collect and use personal information from anyone under 18.
The biggest feature? A right to erase. Teens—or their parents—will be able to request that certain data be deleted, including photos, messages, and account history. But that’s just one part of the bigger picture.
Key points are
- - Stricter consent requirements before collecting any data from minors.
- - Mandatory “privacy-by-design” standards for apps and websites targeting kids.
- - Hefty penalties for companies that ignore the rules or misuse data.
- - Age verification tools to prevent younger children from being targeted by ads or inappropriate content.
- This isn’t just about making platforms safer—it’s about giving young people control over how they are represented online.
A Chance to Start Fresh: Why This Change Is a Big Deal
This reform isn't only about deleting awkward selfies or old usernames. It’s about giving people space to grow up without being stuck with their past mistakes forever. Everyone changes, and what you thought was funny or cool in Year 9 probably isn’t how you want to be seen as an adult.
For teens, this law means a fresh start. It’s protection against future embarrassment and a shield against online bullying or harassment. It’s also a tool to improve mental health, especially for those who feel overwhelmed by past posts they can’t take back. For tech companies, it’s a wake-up call. They’ll be held accountable for the way they handle young people’s data. That includes being transparent, building privacy into their systems from the start, and giving users real choices, not just a wall of unreadable terms and conditions.
But Can You Erase the Internet?
Of course, the idea of fully deleting something from the internet is complicated. The web is not one place—it’s a tangled network of servers, backups, users, and algorithms. Even if a company agrees to delete your account or remove your data, there’s no guarantee it hasn’t already been shared, copied, or archived somewhere else.
Plus, many platforms operate globally. Enforcing Australian laws on a platform based in the U.S. or China won’t always be easy. That’s why digital literacy—knowing how to manage privacy settings, think before posting, and understand data policies—is still just as important as having legal rights. So while this new law is a step in the right direction, it’s not a magical “delete everything” button. It’s more like a reset—a way to reduce harm and give young people more agency in the online world.
A Global Trend in the Making?
Australia isn’t alone in this. The European Union has already implemented a version of this idea through its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which includes a “Right to Be Forgotten.” This lets people ask for outdated or irrelevant personal data to be removed from search results or websites.
Other countries are following suit. Canada, the UK, and even some U.S. states like California are exploring similar rules for youth privacy. If this trend continues, we may be moving toward a future where young people around the world can grow up online without being permanently defined by it.
Final Thoughts
Australia’s push to let teens erase their online past is more than just a legal change—it’s a cultural shift. It tells young people: “You deserve the right to move on.” And that’s something we don’t hear enough in the digital world.
As someone who’s grown up online, I know how easy it is to post something without thinking—and how hard it is to take it back. These reforms could give teens the space to be human, to make mistakes, and to grow without being trapped by what they did at 13 or 15. At the end of the day, privacy isn’t just about secrecy. It’s about freedom. And giving teens the freedom to control their digital identity might be one of the most important changes we make for the next generation.
By Ranya Gadhia
