Should Australia Ban Social Media for Kids? [Poll]

Update: Australia has officially voted to prohibit social media use among children under 16. A poll conducted by DMN showed that a significant majority of respondents believe the US should implement similar measures – see the conclusion of the article.

The issue of social media usage by kids is one of the most discussed subjects in technology today. There is considerable evidence suggesting that platforms like Instagram can adversely affect children’s mental health, though some argue that these platforms also promote social interactions.

It has been well-documented that the mental health of teenagers has significantly declined over the past decade, correlating with their use of social media.

The CDC’s bi-annual Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that a large number of teen girls (57%) report experiencing ongoing sadness or hopelessness (an increase from 36% in 2011), while 30% of teen girls have seriously contemplated suicide (up from 19% in 2011). Although boys are also struggling, their levels of depression and anxiety are not as pronounced, and the increases since 2011 are less significant.

Several studies have explored the possibility of a causal link between escalating social media use and declining mental health, with one researcher concluding that the evidence now supports this connection unequivocally.

Since 2019, a considerable amount of new research has emerged, and there has been surprising consensus among leading scholars in the field. There is now substantial evidence that social media is a major factor contributing to depression and anxiety and its related behaviors, including self-harm and suicide.

The American Psychological Association (APA) recommended last year that parents oversee and regulate social media usage for children up to the age of 14.

Additionally, numerous lawsuits have been filed against social media companies for intentionally designing their platforms to addict teenagers.

Apple CEO Tim Cook is among those who have voiced concerns about the potential negative impacts of technology on mental health.

Australia’s Discussions on a Ban for Under 16s

Associated Press reports that the Australian government is currently considering implementing a ban.

Australia’s communications minister has introduced a groundbreaking bill into Parliament that would prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media, emphasizing that online safety is one of the biggest challenges facing parents.

Michelle Rowland noted that platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram could face fines up to 50 million Australian dollars (approximately $33 million) for failing to stop young children from creating accounts.

“For too many young Australians, social media can be harmful,” Rowland stated. “Almost two-thirds of Australians aged 14 to 17 have encountered extremely disturbing content online, including drug abuse, suicide or self-harm, as well as violent material. Furthermore, one-quarter of this demographic has been exposed to content promoting unhealthy eating habits.”

Messaging and gaming platforms would not be included in this ban.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Do you believe that banning social media use for children under 16 is a wise decision? Should there be regulations in place that are less severe than a complete ban, such as a requirement for parental approval?

We invite you to participate in our poll and share your opinions in the comments section.

Update: As of this writing, our poll shows that 69% of readers think we should “absolutely” follow suit, while an additional 18% believe we should “probably” do so. Only 9% opposed the idea.

Image credit: Paul Hanaoka/Unsplash