In Australia, only adults should be allowed access to social media, with children banned from joining digital platforms in the same way they are denied access to alcohol or cigarettes, a study has found.
Parent groups and researchers made the call at the Social Media and Australian Society survey in Canberra on Monday.
They are urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to raise the age of their proposed social media ban to 18.
The change would protect children from serious harm and provide a solution for parents who struggle to understand online risks, they said.
But the call for a wider ban on social media goes against the advice of some child safety organisations, including Headspace and the National Women’s Safety Alliance, which warned against an outright ban. .
Representatives from three parenting groups appeared before the inquiry, including Heads Up Alliance founder Dany Elachi, who said children are not equipped to deal with the challenges of social media.
“We believe the gold standard is 18 years old,” he said.
“Parents are urging our lawmakers to ignore the naysayers, the same ones who tried to block cell phone bans in schools in recent years.”
Children are not equipped to deal with the dangers of social media, parent groups say. Source: MONKEY / Then Peled
The current social media age restriction of 13 does not reflect research findings, Elachi said, but a situation established years earlier without scientific basis.
He challenged politicians to raise proposed age limits for social media, saying children’s access to platforms should be restricted in the same way as other harmful substances and pastimes.
“We just put age limits on alcohol and tobacco,” he said.
“We make no exception for the 17-year-old who knows how to handle his alcohol better.”
Preventing all children from accessing social media could also benefit parents, said Siobhan Allen, executive director of Catholic School Parents WA, as many did not understand the risks and were under pressure from their children.
“Parents are struggling in this area,” she said.
“If there was legislation, it just makes it easier because… you can say to each other, ‘I’m not going to let you do anything to break the law.'”
The committee also heard emotional testimony from Ali Halkic, whose 17-year-old son Allem committed suicide in 2009 after online bullying.
In addition to lifting age limits, Halkic said the government should provide parents with more education on social media to ensure they are aware of the risks and signs of distress.
“I contributed to the death of my own son,” he told the committee.
“I let him use the internet, let him go on social media, I wasn’t aware of the impact it had on him.”
Ali Halkic says parents need more education about the risks of social media. Source: MONKEY / Julian Smith
Other youth mental health groups, including Headspace and the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, have done so as well .
Katherine Berney, executive director of the National Women’s Safety Alliance, told the inquiry that a widespread ban would be challenging.
Instead of preventing children from accessing social networks, she said tech companies should be forced to release content such as .
“We are absolutely in favor of age verification, especially for adult content, but I do recognize that blanket bans will be difficult to implement and will require further discussions and more consultation,” she said.
The social media inquiry, which was launched in May, is expected to release its recommendations in November.
Readers seeking crisis support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for under 25s). More information and mental health support is available at and on 1300 22 4636.
DEKYAS NEWS World Breaking News and Trusted Source
