Experts and children are sharing feasibility, privacy, and scope fears about Australia’s incoming social media ban for children younger than 16.
The social media age restriction was signed off on by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state and territory leaders on Nov. 8 but questions remain over its implementation.
Justine Humphry, one of three authors of a study into emerging online safety issues, said the ban was “unenforceable” and wouldn’t provide long-term benefits for young people.
“The technology required for age verification of young people is very unreliable and still exploratory,” the University of Sydney digital cultures lecturer told AAP.
Based on the eSafety Commissioner-funded research, Humphry said the vast majority of teenagers from 12 to 17 surveyed suggested they could get around age restrictions.
She argued a blanket ban could do “more harm than good”, despite broad support from parents (86 percent) and young people (70 percent) for stronger age limits.
“It promises a simple fix that may not exist in reality,” Humphry said.
“A ban that is based on a fixed age, particularly such an old age, means that young people won’t develop the resilience and the skills they need to interact safely in social media spaces.
“I’m really concerned that that whole period of learning is just not going to happen.”
The Albanese government will introduce the required legislation to parliament next sitting week and, with the coalition having previously flagged support, it could pass before the end of 2024.
The ban would come into effect 12 months later, with a current trial of age verification and assurance technologies due to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Belinda Barnet, a senior lecturer in media at Swinburne University of Technology, backs an age limit of 13 or 14, citing the case of a 12-year-old Sydney girl who died by suicide in September after being bullied.
“It’s a toxic environment for adults let alone an 11-year-old,” the social media expert told AAP.
The mother of three suggested the age verification model should rely on a third-party or government organisation, declaring the social media platforms could not be trusted with “sensitive” information.
“There are so many disastrous things that could go wrong,” Barnet said.
“It’s not just going to be 10-year-olds who have to go through this process.”
Lumping app stores with the task would also not necessarily stop a parent downloading the banned apps to their child’s device and some platforms can be accessed through web browsers, Barnet added.
Melbourne schoolgirl Hillary, 11, does not have a phone and supports the ban but is worried it could affect her use of other platforms that most people would not consider social media.
“I would be upset if I wasn’t allowed to use Pinterest or YouTube because I do drawing and crafts and sometimes they’re quite useful,” she said.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said exemptions could be made for educational and health platforms, such as YouTube Kids.
Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
