Australia will introduce one of the world’s toughest social media policies for children next week, with a ban that comes into effect on Wednesday.
Technology giant Meta has already started locking children under the age of 16 out of Instagram and Facebook, as it runs age checks on its users.
Other platforms have started contacting underage users – advising them to download their photos and contacts, and offering the choice of deleting their accounts or freezing them until they turn 16.
The age-restricted ban also includes TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, Kick, Threads and X.
Impact on influencers
In the town of Umina on the New South Wales central coast, 14-year-old skateboarders Vespa Eding and Indy Conwell post photos and videos of their latest tricks in the skate bowl. Their accounts are managed by their mums.
The girls also coach young skaters and have corporate sponsors.
“I see both sides to it,” Indy explains. “It’s sad because I’m probably going to lose my account that I use to contact my sponsors and do my business.”
“But I think it’s a good idea [to ban it] for people getting bullied or if they’re getting addicted to it.”
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Mental health crises
Lawyer and mother Emma Mason knows how damaging social media can be.
Her daughter Matilda Rosewarne, who was called “Tilly”, suffered from years of online abuse as a teenager in the regional city of Bathurst.
Tilly took her own life on 16 February 2022. She was 15 years old.
“When Tilly was about 14, a fake nude was sent around by a friend of hers at school in Bathurst,” Ms Mason said.
“It spread to about 300 children, then it went to about 1,000 kids and by 6pm she had attempted suicide.”
Ms Mason has campaigned for Australia’s social media ban since she lost her daughter, and spoke at an event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this year.
Psychologist Danielle Einstein, co-author of the book Raising Anxiety, says there is clearly a link between anxiety, uncertainty and social media.
“Now is the time to get contact numbers and to see who your good friends are,” Dr Einstein said. “Who are the people you have fun with and who are the people you talk to when things aren’t going well.”
Under the ban, children will still be able to use messaging services.
Life off the apps
At Brigidine College in Sydney, students are preparing to get off the apps.
Teenager Sophia Benson says: “I’m on the fence about it. I think it’s good for kids’ mental health. But I also think it encourages the younger generation to find ways around it because obviously if you’re told you can’t do something, you want to do it more.”
Elsie Ord is 15 years old and will spend the next seven months without social media access.
“I signed up at such a young age I was already using fake ages,” Elsie says. “I’m on social media around eight hours a day. I don’t know how I’m going to cope. I’m one of the people thinking how am I going to escape this, but it’s inevitable.”
Some 96% of Australia’s teenagers under 16 have social media accounts, according to Australia’s internet regulator.
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The Australian government says the new social media laws are necessary to protect children from addiction and cyberbullying.
However, there is opposition as well.
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Social media ‘whack a mole’
John Riddick is a member of the NSW Parliament and the Libertarian Party.
He’s also president of the Digital Freedom Project, which is backing a High Court challenge against the ban.
Mr Riddick says it should be up to parents to decide what is good for their children, not the government.
“Kids are tech savvy. You say ‘you can’t do this, and you can’t do that’ and you’re going to play whack-a-mole, the kids are going to get around it,” he argues.
The government has warned it may expand its list of banned apps.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email [email protected] in the UK.
Alternatively, you can call Mind’s support line on 0300 102 1234, or NHS on 111.
