Australia’s government wants to restrict kids’ social media access

Unsurprisingly, there's a lot of pushback against this controversial policy from experts. Meanwhile, Screen Australia has created a domestic policy around AI use.
September 10, 2024

Australia’s government has committed to introducing legislation this year that creates a minimum age for accessing social media. 

This threshold, which hasn’t been finalized yet, is expected to be between 14 and 16. The legislation will take cues from various levels of government, as well as insights from former chief justice of Australia’s High Court, Robert French. French handed in a lengthy 276-page report to the government last week about banning social media for kids under the age of 14. 

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese blasted social media in the following statement: “We know social media is causing social harm, and it’s taking kids away from real friends and real experiences. Australian young people deserve better, and I stand with them and with all Australian parents in protecting our kids. The safety and mental and physical health of our young people is paramount. We’re supporting parents and keeping kids safe by taking this action, because enough is enough.”

The upcoming legislation is part of a broader effort the government is making to protect kids online. It has already invested US$4.3 million to test several approaches for verifying children’s ages to help inform the policy. More details about the plan will be unveiled once this trial is complete. 

Several Australian experts have already weighed in, with a consensus emerging that while social media does have its problems, education on safe and smarter use would be more helpful than an outright ban. University of Adelaide senior lecturer and sociologist Samantha Schulz shared one of the most concise arguments on Science Media Exchange. 

“There is logic in establishing boundaries that limit young people’s access,” says Schulz. “However, young people are not the problem, and regulating youth misses the more urgent task of regulating irresponsible social media platforms.” 

A wider kids-and-social-media reckoning seems to be on the horizon, with governments around the world trying to put the technological genie back into the bottle.

In March, Florida passed a restrictive bill to ban kids under 14 from having social media accounts. France’s government commissioned a report (which came out in April) arguing that kids shouldn’t be allowed to use phones until they’re 13, and should also be banned from social media until they’re 18. And beginning in June, a number of Canadian provinces started banning cellphones in school classrooms. 

In other Australian news, the government’s media funding agency Screen Australia has introduced an artificial intelligence policy, making it very clear that it’s going to prioritize financing “human talent, creativity and culture.” 

The policy requires that companies share how and when AI is being used, where it could be implemented, and who might be affected. Screen Australia supports the ethical use of this technology, and advocates for increasing diversity, equity and inclusion and obtaining consent from all rights holders. There should also be oversight, due diligence and risk assessment conducted on any use. 

The kids industry is probably going to see a lot more policies like this one emerge. In Kidscreen‘s Q3 magazine issue, 9 Story Media Group shared details of its own rules and regulations for AI usage, both internally and in content that comes from partners. The next step should see more funding agencies and broadcasters outlining their AI expectations and restrictions for content commissions.  

About The Author
News editor for Kidscreen. Ryan covers tech, talent and general kids entertainment news, with a passion for kids rap content and video games. Have a story that's of interest to Kidscreen readers? Contact Ryan at rtuchow@brunico.com

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