In today's digital age, social media has become a pervasive part of our lives, shaping how we communicate, share, and consume information. However, as social media platforms continue to grow, there's an ongoing debate about whether the minimum age for accessing these platforms should be raised from 13 to 16. This discussion is particularly relevant in Australia, since the federal government announced plans to introduce legislation to raise the minimum age by the end of the year.
Concerns about the impact of social media on youth are central to the conversation with some peak bodies opposed to the plans.
We've compiled responses to some of the more common arguments from opponents of raising the minimum age.
Claim: Increasing the age limit will restrict teens’ access to information and support - ‘If we raise the age and younger children are still accessing it, it might drive that help-seeking behaviour underground’.
Social media is one of many pathways available for struggling teens to seek out information and access online support or health information. Introducing age restrictions won’t prevent young people from being able to easily access the wealth of information available elsewhere online.
A cohort of young people who are opposed to raising the age limit say it isn’t a good idea as their experiences using tech and social media are empowering and positive, and these restrictions will deny them that ability.
Yet a number of reports surveying young people’s experience with social media, including Meta’s own internal research, overwhelmingly highlight the self reported negative effects of social media on their lives.
In 2021, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen exposed internal documents revealing Meta knowingly prioritises profits over user safety. We now know, according to Meta’s own research, just 10 to 15 minutes of scrolling through Instagram increases body dissatisfaction among girls.
Eating disorders are up 200 per cent over the last 12 years for Australians, according to the latest data, with a significant increase among 14-16 year olds. A 2022 study conducted across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia revealed that within 8 minutes, TikTok served content related to eating disorders. Every 39 seconds, TikTok recommended videos about body image and mental health to teens.
Sextortion cases are increasing with children as young as 12 being targeted on social media and messaging platforms.
Misogyny and harmful attitudes infiltrate the minds of teen boys in Australia as social media algorithms push ‘popular’ personalities who perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes. “Boys are being radicalised online and they’re sharing dangerous content with each other. They’re learning callous, brutal ideas about masculinity.” - Melinda Tankard Reist
Suicide and self harm has skyrocketed in children under 19 with a 3-fold increase in the rate of self-harm hospitalisations of girls.
The parents of Year 7 student, Charlotte, who died by suicide after being bullied sent a poignant letter to a social media summit held in NSW this week.
14-year-old Charlotte from Santa Sabina College in Sydney took her own life following bullying, including online. Charlotte's mother, Kelly, wrote of her enduring grief, expressing the heartbreak of losing a daughter and the widespread impact on their family and community. She emphasised the dangers of social media for young people, highlighting its addictive nature and the lack of refuge from its cruelty. Kelly urged doubters of social media's harm to consider their loss stating:
“For anybody doubting the harmful effects of social media on our young people, the love of my life is gone... Please raise the age of social media to at least 16 — 36 months could change a lifetime.”
Social media has been directly blamed for the deaths of a number of Australian kids who have taken their lives after being cyberbullied, groomed and abused by online predators.
In an address to the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society our Movement Director, Melinda Tankard Reist shared:
“Trafficking, predation, sexploitation and grooming are prevalent on the “anti-social media” tech platforms which have committed social arson… TikTok promotes whipping, sadism and choking, including choking challenges which have killed people.
At least five Australian boys have ended their lives due to sextortion scams, after being blackmailed by who they had thought were “hot young women”.
Consensual-non-consent or “rape play” is a popular tag on TikTok.Thirteen-year-old Australian girls “tell me they are regularly” sent live masturbation videos on Snapchat… ‘Tribute’ videos of men and boys masturbating to specific girls are not taken down off X.
Their products are not safe for children. Not safe for minors. Age verification doesn’t have to be bulletproof to be worthwhile. Children can still get alcohol and cigarettes, but we don’t sell it to them over the counter.”
Claim: It will limit the development of digital literacy skills.
While social media can be a valuable tool for learning how to navigate online spaces responsibly, it isn’t the only tool. The development of digital literacy involves learning how to critically evaluate information of which there is a world wide web of! Limited access to social media isn’t going to prevent young people from developing these skills.
On the contrary. Social media companies have poured billions into making these platforms as addictive as possible, limiting kids ability to concentrate, make informed decisions, and limit their own exposure to damaging material. Research shows that more hours of screen time are associated with lower well-being in ages 2 to 17.
Social psychologist Jonathon Haidt observes:
“By designing a firehose of addictive content that entered through kids’ eyes and ears, and by displacing physical play and in-person socializing, these companies have rewired childhood and changed human development on an almost unimaginable scale.”
Claim: Kids are going to feel left out.
Adolescence is a critical time for developing social skills and relationships. Psychologists say there is a youth mental health crisis being caused by excessive social media use that is leading to loneliness, sleep deprivation and reduced social skills. Raising the age limit could encourage teens to engage more in face-to-face interactions, fostering real-world communication skills that are crucial for personal growth and development.
Will kids miss out? Yes. They will miss out on further exposure to pornography, dangerous TikTok trends, cyberbullying, influencers encouraging harmful stereotypes and unrealistic beauty standards, grooming and exploitation.
'"[My] overall health and happiness were a lot higher without just TikTok," said 13-year-old Eloise Correll, who went on a one-month TikTok detox after spending three hours a day on the platform.'
Read Eloise’s story here.
Claim: It’s not going to solve the problem - ‘Australia’s proposed legislation could distract from efforts to hold those social media companies responsible for policing themselves’.
We agree, raising the minimum age isn’t a silver bullet. The onus must remain primarily on the social media platforms themselves to make digital spaces safer and to protect those most at risk. Should this release us from using every measure possible to help keep children safe online?
Melinda Tankard Reist's address to the Joint Select Committee on Social Media continued:
“We’re not saying this will create safe platforms. The platforms will still be dangerous or unsafe. But the fact is that any year of delay will reduce harm and minimise harm.
This is one lever, we need to use every lever at our disposal… let’s try everything, throw everything we can at this to limit the damage that is being done, especially to vulnerable children and young people… Too much responsibility is placed on young people to monitor their own safety online and that onus should be on big tech and social media companies.”
Increasing the minimum age on social media is crucial for safeguarding children's healthy development and delaying their exposure to harmful content. As young minds are still in the formative stages, they are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of social media that can lead to long term harm.
While we continue to put pressure on social media companies to create safer online environments, we have an opportunity to implement measures that protect our kids. This proactive approach not only shields them from immediate dangers but also sets them up for success in navigating the digital world responsibly as they grow older.
See also:
Submission to Social Media and Online Safety inquiry
Movement Director Melinda Tankard Reist in the media re age assurance for porn sites
Hold social media platforms to account: MTR addresses Fed inquiry
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