Australia Proposes Banning Children From Accessing Social Media

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Facts

  • Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday that his government would introduce legislation in parliament to enforce a minimum age limit for children using social media.[1]
  • The age limit to access platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok is yet to be determined, but it's expected to apply to children between the ages of 14 and 16 and will be enforced before the May 2025 election.[2][3]
  • Albanese said he personally preferred a 'higher limit' as high as 16 so children stay away from their devices, 'have a childhood,' and engage with each other.[4][1]
  • He added that an age verification trial would be conducted, and the cut-off age would be agreed between his government and the states and territories before the ban is enforced.[5][6]
  • Albanese's announcement follows a parliamentary inquiry into social media's influence and effects on Australian society. The Joint Select Committee is expected to table its final report on or before Nov. 18.[7]
  • According to a 2023 University of Sydney study, about three-quarters of young Australians aged between 12 and 17 had accessed YouTube or Instagram.[8]

Sources: [1]Abc, [2]The Telegraph, [3]The Times, [4]Washington Post, [5]Al Jazeera, [6]Time, [7]APH and [8]CNN.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Guardian. Though this reckless and populist policy may play well in media discourse, such measures infringe on children's right to expression and exclude young minds from meaningful, healthy engagement in the digital world. This ban could also inadvertently drive struggling teenagers to hide their social interactions using virtual private networks, seek help secretly, or drive dangerous online activity underground, exacerbating the dangers. Last but not least, it would let tech giants off the hook in making necessary reforms to the quality of content on their platforms.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Time. There's nothing 'social' about social media. Children must play real games on the field, make friends in real-time, and have real experiences with the real world. Australia isn't making an absurd, unprecedented decision. China, France, and several states in the US have restricted minors' social media use to protect them from mental harm. Albanese is committed to giving parents the power to push back against social media corporations and force tech giants to ban teenagers from their platforms or face penalties.
  • Narrative C, as provided by Washington Post. This is a complex issue, and there are better solutions than cutting off access to social media. Countries that have imposed age limits have difficulty enforcing the measures as there are numerous ways users can circumvent the restrictions. To protect Australia's children, the government must develop high-quality experiences online for children of all ages, equip parents with the tools to support their teenagers, and probably place tobacco-style warning labels on social media to alert users.

Predictions