Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan has announced new legal reforms aimed at protecting children from online abuse by requiring social media platforms to identify anonymous accounts engaged in harmful behaviour.

The measures, the first of their kind in an Australian state, grant the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) 'demasking' powers to compel platforms to reveal the identities of users accused of online vilification.This comes as part of broader efforts to hold social media and AI companies accountable for negligence causing psychiatric harm to minors.

Current laws require families to prove a child has suffered a permanent impairment of at least 10% before pursuing damages, but the reforms will lower this threshold.

Legal experts, including Associate Professor Marilyn Bromberg, acknowledge the progress but argue the measures should extend to other online harms like defamation and cyberbullying.The reforms follow global trends, including a landmark US lawsuit against Google and Meta for social media addiction.While the changes are seen as overdue, their impact on future legal actions in Australia remains uncertain.The government plans to consult with stakeholders before finalising the reforms.