Melbourne (TDI): With increasing concerns that social networking sites are negatively affecting children’s development, Australians have taken notice of the recent revelation from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that he plans to prohibit children from these platforms.
Parental preference, according to Anthony Albanese, is to see their children playing outside rather than on social media.
Young people are always linked to their friends and the newest trends because to the growth of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and Snapchat.
However, social media has had a significant negative influence on users’ mental health and general wellbeing, particularly young people.
Social media addiction, according to health professionals, can cause anxiety, melancholy, and feelings of inadequacy in young people because they compare themselves to others and look to “likes” and comments for validation.
They might be exposed to dangerous content, predators online, and cyberbullying as a result.
Also read: Australia to Ban Social Media for Under 16
Children under a certain age—widely rumored to be 16—will not be allowed to use social media sites under the government’s proposal, the specifics of which have not yet been made public.
It was pointed out by numerous observers that it might be more difficult to implement and enforce the prohibition.
It may be challenging for the government to genuinely forbid a certain segment of the population from accessing social media, according to Samantha Schulz, senior lecturer in the sociology of education at the University of Adelaide.
“It is true that there is a chance that denying young people access to social media could encourage hidden behavior, as people of all ages have always had to deal with,” she stated.
“The problem with this is that ‘difficult youth’ will be blamed for issues that stem from social media firms’ careless failure to appropriately govern their platforms for social health, safety, and well-being.”
“Implementing a prohibition for children “would be difficult and would require an age verification system,” according to Megan Lim, deputy program director (disease eradication) and head of young people’s health at the Burnet Institute.
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The eSafety Commissioner is reportedly working on an age verification trial, which is an important first step, she said.
Although access to internet pornography is legally required in some countries, such as Germany and France, she claimed she was unaware of any other usage of age verification on social media.
