Socials ban will not help children
Education is key online
Blocking children’s access to social media would be an ineffective way to protect them from online dangers, experts say, as leaders grapple with distressing online content.
The federal opposition has revived calls to trial age verification on social media, in an attempt to shield children from exposure to harmful images and videos on platforms.
But experts have pointed to a global body of research that suggests limiting access would be a temporary solution, instead urging a focus on improving digital literacy.
Tama Leaver, a professor of internet studies at Perth’s Curtin University, argued that age restrictions would not reach the cause of the issue and instead bump it down the track.
“Most of the research suggests that banning is not actually that helpful,” Prof Leaver said.
“Even the research around mobile phones in schools suggests that outright banning them is largely ineffective. We know that it feels satisfying to politicians – and maybe it’s seen to solve something – but for the most part, the research suggests that that doesn’t achieve very much at all.”
On Monday, Australia’s eSafety commissioner launched federal court action against Elon Musk’s social media platform X over its refusal to remove videos of a stabbing attack at a Sydney church.
The legal stoush prompted opposition communications spokesman David Coleman, who has long called for a mandatory age verification regime, to suggest Australia follow some US states that block children under 15 or 16 from using Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
A recent report released by the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine found there was insufficient evidence to support broad restrictions or bans on access to social media.
Experts did, however, point to evidence showing the negative effects of harmful content and disinformation and called for more research on the links between social media and mental health.
A survey of more than 600 young people released by the University of Sydney last year found that most kids were sceptical about online platforms’ ability to verify age.
Some told researchers they would use loopholes if strict age limits were to be introduced in Australia, for example, using a VPN service to change their country.
Most 12- to 17-year-olds said they wanted to be consulted if the government was considering limits on social media use. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland confirmed on Wednesday that she would consider measures to toughen age limits on social media as part of a review of the government’s Online Safety Act.
She said government would examine an “age assurance” pilot to help prevent children from accessing content such as pornography. “This review will canvass options to strengthen safeguards for children, including through greater enforcement powers,” she said.