Blanket ban on social media for young Aussies not the answer, experts say
Social media is causing young Aussies social harm says Anthony Albanese, but several experts disagree with the plan to ban their access to the platforms.
The Albanese government’s commitment to a social media ban for young people by the end of the year has drawn criticism from adolescent and social media experts who say a blanket ban will not address the harm young people are suffering online.
The proposed federal ban follows the South Australian plan this week to force social media companies to deny access to children 13 years or younger.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday a national response to the problem is needed, and said the federal government would put forward a bill that would set an age limit for access to social media platforms, likely between 14 and 16.
He conceded banning younger people from social media is not an easy thing to do, but is necessary to protect young Australians.
“We know social media is causing social harm, we know that if we can get our youngest Australians off these devices, then it can make a positive difference for them,” Albanese said on Tuesday.
Funding digital literacy better than a blanket ban, internet expert says
But Professor Tama Leaver, internet and social media expert at Curtin University, says the proposed ban, which at this stage we know little about how it will work, is not the answer.
“The proposal of a ban suggests all social media is harmful, and that is demonstrably untrue,” Leaver told Yahoo News. “There are many benefits of social media for young people.”
He said bullying is a problem for young people online but rather than banning them from using social media he said they need to be taught the social skills to deal with bullying.
Leaver would like to see government funding poured into digital literacy to help younger people with the challenges they face on line.
“What about education rather than a ban? What about empowering parents with the tools needed to protect young people?
“Social media bans will prevent young people participating fully in a digital world, infringing on their rights, and not allowing them to flourish as digital citizens.”
Social media ban for young Aussies 'a band-aid response'
Lisa Given, Professor of Information Sciences at RMIT University, said a ban on social media for young people is premature and is not supported by clear evidence.
“Children need to gain the necessary skills to navigate online worlds, including social media, and banning them from these platforms is not the solution,” she said.
Given says young people would find a way around bans, and echoing the views of Leaver says involving parents and teachers plays a key role in developing the digital literacy needed to safely navigate social media platforms.
The Australian Association of Psychologists director Carly Dober says a ban distracts from the real issues at hand.
“It’s a band-aid response to a very complicated and deeply entrenched issue,” she told AAP.
She said it also overlooks the benefits online spaces can offer to young people, especially those from marginalised communities.
“LGBTQI people, refugee youth, disabled youth — they find community in different spaces if their experience at school or in their communities isn’t so welcoming,” Dober said.
“What happens for those young people who are then locked out of their valuable online communities?”
with AAP
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