Children under 14 may soon be prohibited from opening social media accounts, as an eminent legal expert will investigate the feasibility of implementing a ban in Australia.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has tasked former High Court chief justice Robert French AC with examining the legal, regulatory, and technological avenues for potentially imposing a ban within the state’s constitutional framework.
If the proposal goes through, parents would also need to provide consent for children aged 14 and 15 to create a social media account.
“Like many parents, I am worried about the impact of social media on children in our society,” stated Mr. Malinauskas on Sunday. “Experts are increasingly demonstrating the negative effects of social media on children, including their mental health and development.”
“I am committed to ensuring that as a government, we are taking all necessary steps to safeguard our children.”
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While most social media platforms currently require users to be at least 13 years old to sign up, this age limit is often bypassed.
If implemented, these changes would mark a first for Australia and follow similar restrictions on children’s social media usage in Spain, as well as the U.S. states of Florida and Texas.
A survey conducted by Australian mental health organization ReachOut in April 2023, involving 631 parents and caregivers, revealed that 59 percent were worried about their teenagers’ social media habits.
Sonya Ryan, who founded a foundation in memory of her daughter Carly, who was tragically killed by an online predator posing as a teenager, emphasized the significant risks social media poses to children.
“Children lack the experience and cognitive abilities to navigate potential dangers online, putting themselves at risk of real harm,” stated Sonya Ryan, Founder & CEO of The Carly Ryan Foundation.
“In my view, the only way forward is to enact appropriate legislation to shield our children from these dangers and to require big tech companies to implement mandatory age verification across all platforms.”
