Anthony Albanese has written to the nation’s first ministers asking for their support in implementing a nationwide minimum age for social media.
After South Australia’s Labor government announced it would be moving forward with plans to ban children under 14 from accessing social media, Albanese announced the federal government would introduce legislation addressing the same concerns by the end of the year.
The government is yet to decide on an age limit, but it is thought to be between 14 and 16.
The move has thrilled parent advocates who are pushing to have a ban on all children being able to access social media, but raised concerns with child advocates and mental health researchers who say it could lead to more harm being done to children, without addressing the main drivers of the dangers they face on social media platforms.
But with the move proving popular among parents and FM radio listeners, the government is forging ahead, with Albanese calling upon the state and territory leaders to come to an agreement on how to best implement a nationwide law.
In his letter to the first ministers, Albanese wants to know each jurisdiction’s preferred age limit, whether parental consent should be considered, opinions on “grandfathering” existing arrangements for current account holders and what information is needed for exemptions – if any.
The state and territory governments will also be asked for assessments of the impacts of phone bans in schools, and what measures can be provided to ensure teenagers and children maintain social connection, activities and community development if a social media age ban is put in place.
Also requested is the support in place for rural and remote teenagers and children, and others who use social media as “a particular source of connection” including Indigenous, culturally and linguistically diverse and LGBTQ+ children, as well as those living with or experiencing disability, as the commonwealth envisions a world where children are excluded from social media platforms.
“We know social media is doing social harm. We need to do everything we can to keep our kids safe and to help them grow up happy, healthy and confident,” Albanese said.
“Legislating a minimum age for social media access is about protecting young people, not punishing or isolating them.
“Protecting children from harm is a shared responsibility across all governments, as well as industry, civil society and communities.”
The Coalition has previously vowed to ban children under the age of 16 from social media within 100 days of taking office, if it won the next election, with both parties on a unity ticket to address social media harms.
A joint select parliamentary committee is mid-way an inquiry into the impacts of social media, including impacts on democracy, with the proposed age ban playing a major role in the hearings.
The eSafety commissioner has previously warned a ban could lead to children accessing social media in secret and prevent them from accessing help if needed.
