Digital Strategy and Analytics Report: AMN425, Semester 2, Analysis

This report delves into the realm of digital strategy and analytics, specifically examining the implications of social media laws and regulations in Australia. It begins by highlighting the rapid evolution of technology and the growing importance of social media platforms for communication, self-expression, and business. The report then analyzes the potential unintended consequences of Australia's social media laws, particularly concerning censorship, freedom of expression, and the complexities of differentiating between various types of online content. It critiques the rushed implementation of the law, the lack of consultation with technology companies and stakeholders, and the potential for limiting genuine speech. The author suggests that re-evaluating the law with input from legal experts, human rights advocates, and tech companies is crucial. Ultimately, the report calls for a balanced approach that addresses online violence without infringing on fundamental rights and hindering the operational plans of tech companies. It also includes references to relevant sources and provides a basis for understanding the current state of social media and its regulation.

Running head: DIGITAL STRATEGY AND ANALYTICS
LABOR MARKET
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1DIGITAL STRATEGY AND ANALYTICS
Law and regulations for Social media posts
With the progressing phase of world, technology and internet platforms are growing at a
faster rate. The functionality at importance of communication and information technology is
changing at a rapid pace with the emergence of the features of social media. The changing
pace is accelerating with every phase of life, for instance, the growth of the mobile
technology have contributed to the formation of the platform of social media. The reason for
the increasing trend of social media is the desire for exposing or sharing entertaining and
valuable content for reflecting their personality in the web and for growing and nurturing the
constructed relationship (Boulianne, 2019). The factor of social acceptability plays an
important role for building the trend of using social media as a medium of self-expression.
The meaning of social media platforms have been moulded to a newer concept, from being a
medium of being connected to sharing unacceptable and controversial information. Social
media is used for shaping the conversation in regards with politics, world culture, education
and businesses (Williams, 2019). The conversation are often accompanied by fleet of
controversial comments. The freedom of expression in the platform of social media sources
reflects the potentiality of addiction (Zivnuska et al., 2019). It also acts as a source of
diversion from other significant practices. In Australia, the laws and regulations for the
responding to the criminal practices in the social media, may reflect the outcome of
unintended consequences. The charge for reflecting the potentiality of criminal content can
be the outcome of a rushed decision as it may present few unintended consequences (Pearson
& Polden, 2019). The concept of censorship can arise from the effects of fear emerged due to
the restriction in the potential criminal content in social media sources (Pearson & Polden,
2019). The law and regulation regarding the violent content in social media was for the
platforms like Twitter, Google and Facebook (adnews.com.au, 2019). The passed law marked
concern for the companies operating in technology sector and can be considered to be the
breach of American laws for social media platforms. The legislation of Australia has been

2DIGITAL STRATEGY AND ANALYTICS
disparaged for rushing the important decision by avoiding the consultation from the
technology based companies and the associated stakeholders in Australia. The unintended
consequences of the law can be the limitation regarding the exposure of the sensitive online
content and the censorship of genuine speech. The criticism of the law has been addressed by
the experts of human rights and the group of technology based companies, which are
operating in Australia (Pearson & Polden, 2019). The law was implemented for the motive of
addressing the unacceptable and violent content in the platform of social media, but it reflects
the requirement of an effective discussion with the concerning bodies, like legal experts,
human rights experts, technology industry operating the region of Australia and the civil
society for an efficient and fair decision. The law may reflect the unintended consequence of
‘restriction on the freedom of expression’ (Pearson & Polden, 2019). Moreover, penalizing
the companies for setting boundaries on the thoughts and expression of people will not
respond to the increasing violence both online and offline. The unintended consequences of
the Australian social media laws can create complexity in regards with the concepts of
expeditiously and terrorist attack. The law will erase the difference between the content from
a source of journalism from the content of a citizen.
The accountability and responsibility of the social media companies will become complex
and close to impossible to differentiate the intention of the users, as the content may be
shared by a concerned citizen, a journalist or an intentional criminal. The law marked few
imprecise standards with the association of high penalties, resulting in the reason of fear for
the rational social media service providers (adnews.com.au, 2019). The law can seriously
damage the operational plan and business model of the companies operating in the tech
industry. The tech companies may feel discouraged for creating jobs in the jurisdiction of
Australia. The reason for the rush could be the election dates in Australia.
The solution for the ‘rushed’ act can be the re-evaluation of the law by organizing a meeting
with the executive members of tech companies, legal experts and human rights experts. The

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discussion should cover the potential consequences and the complexities associated with the
factor of differentiation between the intentions of social media users. The law will have to
undergo modification by considering the factors for freedom of expression in relation to the
unacceptable contents.

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References:
adnews.com.au (2019). Australian expert says Facebook's Zuckerberg is skirting meaningful
regulation - AdNews. [Online] Retrieved from http://www.adnews.com.au/news/australian-
expert-says-facebook-s-zuckerberg-is-skirting-meaningful-regulation
adnews.com.au (2019). The 'chilling' unintended consequences of Australia's new social
media laws - AdNews. Retrieved from http://www.adnews.com.au/news/the-chilling-
unintended-consequences-of-australia-s-new-social-media-laws
Boulianne, S. (2019). Revolution in the making? Social media effects across the globe.
Information, communication & society, 22(1), 39-54.
Pearson, M., & Polden, M. (2019). The Journalist's Guide to Media Law: A handbook for
communicators in a digital world. Allen & Unwin.
Williams, P. D. (2019). Lobbying and Public Advocacy in Australia: Where Politics and
Media Meet. Advocates and Persuaders.
Zivnuska, S., Carlson, J. R., Carlson, D. S., Harris, R. B., & Harris, K. J. (2019). Social
media addiction and social media reactions: The implications for job performance. The
Journal of social psychology, 1-15.