As a member of Gen Z, social media has shaped my life in more ways than I can count. Born just 10 months before Facebook launched in Australia, I’ve grown up with every moment – from my first steps – shared on my mother’s Facebook page. I’ve never known a world without social media. It’s essential to teach children how to coexist with social media, rather than ban them from it.

Last week, the Albanese government proposed “world-leading” legislation to ban children under 16 from all social media, including platforms like TikTok and Roblox, which, let’s be honest, are a vital source of much needed connection in this day and age. This paternalistic measure, taken without consultation with the people affected by it, means more than just teens saying goodbye to Instagram DMs or Snapchat streaks.

Research by Western Sydney University found that four in ten children (37%) and more than six in ten teens (63%) source their news from social media. This underscores how critical these platforms are for informing young people about the world they live in and fostering a belief that gives them an ability to shape their future.

That said, social media companies have a responsibility to promote respectful, non-toxic content – one that they often fail. Social mediahas its limitations for nuanced discussions on complex political issues, but this isn’t an excuse to ban children from these platforms. Rather, it’s an opportunity to develop a critical life skill and age appropriately educate them on coexisting respectfully and healthily.

The government tells us it also wants to introduce a ‘digital duty of care,’ which will put the responsibility on social media companies to protect the mental health of their users. All stakeholders frustrated by companies neglecting these responsibilities, welcome this move.

However, it’s notable that this is the same government that recently dismissed young people’s push to include a climate duty of care in federal law – an initiative aimed at protecting both the physical and mental health of Australian youth in the face of the climate crisis. It speaks volumes about what the government is willing to protect young people from and their motivations for a quick win.

Anthony Albanese said he has spoken to “thousands” of parents and other adults about the social media age ban, but where was the input from young people, the ones it directly affects? It’s unacceptable to create policies affecting youth without their input. Young people have the skills, passion and desire to shape their future. The government needs to support them to do it.

Social media is increasingly a platform for student activism, allowing teens to connect with like-minded people, educate themselves on global issues and mobilise for positive change.

As a youth activist, I’ve seen the power of social media to reach young people and drive change. Social media is our main tool for communication and education in my work on the duty of care bill. Through our Instagram and TikTok pages, we create and share age-appropriate, educational content designed to empower young people to take charge of their future. These short, digestible soundbites effectively engage our audience by educating them on issues that affect them directly and offering ways to take action for positive change.

The duty of care social media platforms provide a safe space for like-minded youth to come together, advocating for a safer and more just future for current and future generations.

Student activism is vital in any democracy, especially since it’s one of the few avenues from which people under 18 can drive change. By restricting their ability to engage in political discourse and online activism, you are effectively limiting their views and voices.

A ban will not only isolate a generation facing increased loneliness, but also undermine their personal and political agency, limiting their capacity to learn vital future skills.

Banning young people from any activity has rarely been effective – a workaround is usually jerry-rigged in some form. Instead, let’s engage with those who know this issue best: young people themselves. Let’s work together and create a platform where people of all ages and stages, have the ability to engage safely and respectfully for their mutual growth, for today and tomorrow.

• Jess Travers-Wolf is a university student and activist. She is an advocate for Senator David Pocock’s proposed duty of care bill, and is head of political engagement at community organisation Raise Our Voice Australia