The Australian government has promised to introduce legislation this year that would set a minimum age for accessing social media.
This standard has not yet been finalized, but is expected to be between the ages of 14 and 16. The bill will draw on cues from various levels of government and the insights of former Australian High Court Chief Justice Robert French. Last week, the French government submitted a lengthy 276-page report to the government on social media bans for children under 14.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese slammed social media in the following statement: “We know social media is causing social harm and depriving children from real friends and real experiences. Young Australians deserve better and I will protect our children. We stand with them and all parents in Australia. The safety and well-being of our young people is paramount. We support parents and keep our children safe by taking this action. Enough is enough.”
The new legislation is part of the government’s wider efforts to protect children online. It has already invested US$4.3 million to test several approaches to verifying children’s ages to inform policy. Further details of this plan will be disclosed upon completion of this trial.
Several Australian experts have already spoken out, and there is a growing consensus that while social media does have its problems, education about its safe and wise use would be more helpful than an outright ban. University of Adelaide senior lecturer and sociologist Samantha Schultz shared one of the most succinct arguments on Science Media Exchange.
“It makes sense to have boundaries that limit young people’s access,” Schultz said. “But the problem is not young people, and regulating young people misses the more pressing challenge of regulating irresponsible social media platforms.”
A broader reckoning with children and social media appears to be on the horizon, as governments around the world seek to put the technology genie back in the bottle.
In March, Florida passed a restrictive bill banning children under 14 from having social media accounts. The French government has published a report (published in April) which argues that children should not be allowed to use mobile phones until they are 13 and should be banned from using social media until they are 18. ) was commissioned. Some Canadian provinces have begun banning the use of cell phones in school classrooms.
In other Australian news, the government’s media funding agency Screen Australia has introduced an artificial intelligence policy, making it clear it will prioritize funding for “human talent, creativity and culture”.
The policy requires companies to share when and how AI will be used, where it will be implemented, and who may 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. Additionally, any use must be subject to oversight, due diligence, and risk assessment.
We’ll probably see more policies like this in the children’s industry. In the third quarter issue of Kidscreen magazine, 9 Story Media Group shared details about its own rules and regulations regarding the use of AI, both internally and in content provided by partners. The next step is for more funding agencies and broadcasters to outline their AI expectations and limits for content commissioning.
