Media.com Champions Verified Social Networking Movement as Australia Embarks on Social Media Reform

Announcement posted by Media.com 11 Dec 2025

As governments worldwide grapple with the escalating impacts of online harm, Australia is emerging as a global leader in social media reform. Amid the December 10th national move towards restricting social media access for children under the age of 16, Australian-founded social network Media.com is gaining international attention for offering a timely alternative - the world's first fully verified online community.

Built on a model where every user is verified as a real person, Media.com is rolling out a social network that studies suggest may reduce online harms by up to 72 per cent [1]. The social platform's approach aligns with the global growing trend toward digital safety, child protection, and accountability in online ecosystems.

"The social media age restrictions in Australia are only part of the solution to restoring trust in online communities," said James Mawhinney, founder and CEO of Media.com. "Media.com believes the future of online interaction is in communities built on trust and authenticity from the start, where users can easily verify who they're engaging and interacting with."

A Vision to Restore Trust in Online Engagement

As an Australian-founded platform headquartered in New York, Media.com reflects the country's broader commitment to safer digital environments. While policy reforms, such as the under-16 social media ban, focus on limiting exposure to potentially harmful platforms, Media.com presents a proactive alternative - a community where harmful behaviour is much harder to perpetrate because anonymous accounts and bots do not exist.

Momentum Builds Ahead of Apps Launch

Since going live in beta last year, Media.com has onboarded verified users from more than 65 countries and is in the final stages of releasing its much-anticipated iPhone and Android mobile apps.

The company has commenced discussions with leading global brands in entertainment, technology, automotive, travel, financial services and telecommunications as early adopters on the social network, because of its "brand safety first" value proposition, ability to deliver verified traffic to advertisers, and ability to publish short and long-form content, including video, articles, podcasts, photos and more.

Unmatched Benefits of Media.com

Universal identity verification, ensuring every user is a real, identifiable person, thus creating user transparency and accountability
A bot-free, fake-account-free ecosystem
Reduced exposure to harassment, impersonation, and misinformation
Privacy-preserving verification standards aligned with global best practices
Real, high-quality traffic for advertisers with targeted advertising features

"By verifying every user, Media.com is rewriting the rules of online engagement, tackling the root causes of online harm at the source," said Irene Salvadori, Media.com's Global Head of Verification. "What governments and policymakers have long been demanding - a structural transformation for a safer, more accountable online world - has been delivered by our Australian team and built for online users around the globe."

Australia at the Forefront of Global eSafety

The alignment of national policy reform and Australian-driven innovation signals a major shift in how the world thinks about online communities. As other nations consider age restrictions, safety standards, and new rules for AI-driven content, Media.com is providing a real-world example of what safer, human-first social design can look like.

"Technology can either amplify harm or eliminate it," added Mr Mawhinney. "Media.com proves that Australia is not just helping drive the changing face of social media — it's helping build it for future generations."

About Media.com
Media.com is the world's first fully verified social network on a mission to tackle online harms. Every piece of content posted to Media.com is traceable to the user who owns the profile, delivering a new standard of accountability, transparency and trust in online information. Users can post and share videos, photos, articles, podcasts, files and more from feature-rich, verified profiles and engage in online discussions with real users who value being part of a trusted online community. Media.com can onboard and verify users from more than 200 countries, including undertaking identity verification of more than 5,000 identification (ID) types. Media.com was created after CEO James Mawhinney experienced online harm with other networks. Currently in beta, Media.com is open for registration, verification, and content creation. For more information, visit Media.com.

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[1] https://www.compassioninpolitics.com/three_quarters_of_those_experiencing_online_abuse_say_it_comes_from_anonymous_accounts