The Australian government has announced a pledge to legislate a minimum age of sixteen for social media access, aiming to reduce the risks young users face online. This move brings critical questions about children's wellbeing and safety to the forefront.
As a parent of two young children, I often wrestle with the dilemma of handing them smartphones. This seems to be the most contentious subject in class WhatsApp groups at the moment. My stance has been that I'd love our children to have access to practical tools like WhatsApp or Google Maps, but when it comes to social media, I get shivers.
- Exposure to idealised images could harm their self-esteem and body confidence.
- The risk of online harassment is ever-present, threatening their mental health.
- Ads and influencer content could steer their young minds toward materialism, pressuring them to conform to trends.
- Despite all their online literacy training, they would still be more vulnerable to oversharing, exposing them to privacy and safety risks.
- And of course, there's the risk of addiction — the dopamine loop of social media notifications is particularly compelling for developing minds.
Let's face it: social media brings connectivity, but for children, I believe the risks often outweigh the benefits. And there is a real risk that they will be pressured into getting on social media too early.
So although I'm generally not one for over-regulation, in this case I'd actually welcome similar legislation here in the UK.
This is mainly because the platforms aren't going to do much by themselves. Remember: even as Mark Zuckerberg argues he isn't personally liable for harm caused to children by Facebook and Instagram, he limits his own children's use of devices, and he hides their faces in his Instagram posts. I think that's quite telling as to how much the platforms will do on their own.
First posted on LinkedIn, Fri 15 November 2024. · All Friday Thoughts