The federal government has announced plans to implement a ban on social media access for individuals under the age of 16 later this year. The decision comes on the heels of increasing alarm over the mental health of young people who use these platforms. Regulators across the world are preparing to limit under-16s from signing up to social media platforms. Their purported aim is to lessen dangers such as cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content, and screen time.
For years now, social media platforms have been accused of being harmful to young users, in myriad ways. Cyberbullying, disordered eating discussions, self-harm content, and hate speech are real threats. They have been associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety in youth. Here’s a look at how government is raising the bar to fix that. Their groundbreaking initiative truly leads the way in defending vulnerable youth from the dangers of social media participation.
Experts caution that though the ban will push some issues off to the future, it could still fall short of solving them all. Advocates as well as critics warn that come the age of 16, these young users will have a lot to contend with. All of these challenges can leave them blindsided. Content moderation and user data collection on social media have deeply complicated effects. These issues need to be at the forefront of the continued discourse around online safety.
Other experts raise concerns that sudden exclusion of under-16s from regular social media could backfire. It may push them into less regulated corners of the internet. For example, platforms such as 4Chan that have very few restrictions or a “no rules” policy can draw in impressionable youth looking for forums that provide more freedom. The likely transition to these environments has the potential to expose adolescents to even more danger.
These age restrictions will push kids onto social media behind adults’ backs, defeating the protections being put in place. Research has demonstrated that keeping young people off these platforms misses the point. Rather, it drives them into the arms of dangerous, unregulated substitutes.
Internationally, research suggests that cutting off access to social media isn’t a surefire answer. Even with these new restrictions in place, youth continue to experience a mental health crisis. Regulators and policymakers have a tough challenge on their hands. They need to show that their social media reforms will truly protect young people from harm and create a relatively safe online environment for everyone.