top of page

The Social Media Ban for Under 16s, an Attempt to Overlook Rather Than Educate

Writer's picture: Xavier Chalkley Xavier Chalkley

Updated: 3 days ago



The Australian Government is banning some social media platforms for kids under 16
The Australian Government is banning some social media platforms for kids under 16

Think back to your first experience of driving a car. For some, this could be quite a traumatic one, sitting next to an extremely nervous parent as they clutch the handle as you venture onto the roads for the first time. For so many 16-year-olds around the country, learning how to drive is a rite of passage that signifies the next step towards adulthood, independence, freedom.


Whilst it is illegal to drive a car on your own before you turn 18 in Victoria, it is not only a person’s age that dictates whether they are ready to drive but rather, it is when they are deemed capable. In Victoria, capability is decided by putting soon-to-be drivers through a series of rigorous tests to ensure they are not a danger to others. A theoretical road rules assessment, 120 hours of supervised practice, a hazards test and a practical driving examination are all mandatory before they are given the ‘green light.’ On top of this, many other programs and initiatives which focus on driver and car safety are provided through schools, sports clubs and other organisations. So, why is the education and training of users for the most advanced and widespread technology since the advent of cars, being social media, not approached with the same level of vigilance and rigor?


In November 2024, the Albanese government announced a proposal to ban people under the age of 16 from having an account with some social media platforms. The legislation was passed in the federal parliament with plans to introduce the ban in early 2026. This is a clear representation that the Australian Government understand and acknowledge that social media is doing harm to our kids.


Whilst the announcement comes as a reassurance for many, especially parents with young families, for those of us who have been a part of the ‘social media generation’, the actions of the federal government seem to miss the point. The proposed ban signifies a ‘wiping of hands clean’ rather than a holistic commitment to the protection of young people’s wellbeing.


It might not come as a big surprise to know that social media is having a big impact on our wellbeing. A study of US undergraduates found that rates of anxiety and depression have increased by over 20% in the past 15 years since the explosion of the ‘social media age’ in the early 2010s. Similarly, a recent study of adolescent girls in the UK found a direct correlation between ‘clinically relevant depressive symptoms’ and the number of hours per week spent on social media.


But it isn’t the actions of the Government which we disagree with but rather the failure to act on what is truly important, namely, the education and upskilling of this generation and pressure on social media giants to make their products safer. Much like when cars were introduced in Australia, a period of uncertainty and chaos followed as people began to realise and navigate the dangerous effects which a lack of education and practice was having. Similarly, the impact of phones and devices on young people is now starting to raise concerns.


It was as if we were given a car and told to go out and drive it, without ever being taught how to even use the steering wheel. Young people (and old) are using this technology that is the most powerful we have ever seen, without any great sense or understanding of how they can use it to its greatest effect, or, how it can be used to its greatest detriment.


Promisingly, the legislation outlined by the Australian Government signifies a major refocus towards improving the outcomes of young Australian’s through reducing their time spent on devices. However, what it fails to do is provide a ‘digital duty of care’ which the Government has committed to. Without appropriate awareness and education, the Government are sweeping this issue under the rug and cleansing themselves of a problem that they themselves did not have to go through. We know that social media, for all its faults, can provide a platform for connection, creativity and inspiration.


A more pertinent and pressing issue is how people actually use social media, at any age and stage of life. Learning proper habits of digital wellbeing, understanding how to use social media more effectively and become informed about modern literacies such as algorithms and the dangerous aspects of social media is much more important than banning it for all ages.


At the age of 16, young people are still ill-equipped to become social media users, if they do not know what they are doing. The dangers which social media present do not automatically or magically evaporate when a child turns 16.


Thus, we acknowledge the Governments actions to prioritise the wellbeing and mental health of young Australian’s, however we would love to see a change of strategy. Parents, teachers and children alike need support in understanding how to navigate social media platforms safely and effectively. In conjunction with education, more onus must be placed on social media platforms themselves, as currently seen in the US where pushes exist to make the apps more accessible and safer to younger people, such as the KOSA Act.


Social media platforms should be safe spaces for all users. We as a society must become better equipped to use social media and our phones in a more balanced way, much like driving a car, it would be a safer place for everyone. But even if the duty of care is legislated, that does not preclude the need for this investment in digital literacy and wellbeing. Not just for young people, but for everyone.

 

 

99 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comentarios


bottom of page