The politicians speak: Should we ban kids under 16 from using social media?

In a matter of days, the debate about legislation to ban children of a certain age from social media platforms has gone from a state-based issue to a national one as the federal government announced concrete plans to make the move, and the Prime Minister proposed his preferred age limit.

Speaking to a Sydney radio station this morning (10 September), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese settled on proposing legislation that will restrict anyone under 16 years of age from accessing social media.

Before we get to what other politicians from across the country think of the proposed plans, here is what PM Albanese had to say in question time today, 10 September, after he had already done the media rounds to spruik the move:

“Social media is causing social harm. It can be used as a weapon for bullies and a vehicle for scammers [and], worst of all, a tool for online predators. And that is why we ensuring that we will get the legislation right. As part of this, we will consult across the Parliament. I don’t think this should be an issue in which we are yelling at each other [there were many interjections from the opposition. – Ed]. I think this is an issue in which we should be yelling at social media companies to do the right thing.

“And that is what I seek. And I hope the Parliament has the maturity to do that.

“The government may not be able to stop every threat on social media, but we have a responsibility to do everything we can to help as many young Australians as we can. We can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. This is a change that will change our country for the better.”

It could be argued that it would be laudable to introduce both good legislation and well-considered and drafted legislation, but, apparently, we can’t have nice things, and Labor is latching onto this issue in the most populist way possible.

Speaking to the ABC this morning, shadow minister for veterans’ affairs Barnaby Joyce voiced the Coalition’s support for the legislation:

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“Peter Dutton has indicated support for this right from the start. I think one of the issues that we believe is we should have started this earlier.

“There is no argument that the insidious nature of social media, especially, I have to say it, having lived through it with young girls at an influential age and issues such as body appearance and weight.

“In fact, I went to the United States to try to have meetings with the senators there as they have been going through the same issue. This is an issue across the globe that people are trying to deal with …

“But of course, we concur with the remarks that for the development of any child, we want them outside, not on their tablet or on mum and dad’s phone. We want them to interact with other people, not interact with a piece of glass and wiring, which is basically what’s happening.

“So I think that we’re very much inclined in support, and Peter has stated that, and the issue that we’ve said within the Coalition is that we wanted to start this process much earlier.

“We seem to be bogged down in other issues, and this is incredibly important, and we need to deal with it.”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan – who had been considering Victoria’s own legislation – said she was very happy with the news:

“I’m absolutely delighted and thrilled that the Prime Minister has stepped up and is determined to take a national approach.

“We need to help parents in pushing back against that tsunami – that social media tsunami that swamps kids – and we need to help teachers. Most importantly, we need to help kids.”

That’s one Labor Premier and a member of the Coalition’s cabinet onboard, and unsurprisingly, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas – who had also been looking at legislating a state-based solution, albeit with a lower age limit of 14 years – is also behind the PM.

“We adopted the position really out of the precedent that came out of Florida, that we thought there was a value and consistency there. If the federal government determines that 16 is a better way to go, we would support that. I would put a higher premium on consistency across the country. Over and above any particular age.

“If at 16, so be it.

“I would welcome that just as long as we have a law passed that puts the obligation on the social media companies and protecting our children.”

Greens spokesperson for communications and deputy chair of the joint select committee on social media and Australian society, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, sounded a discordant note among all the congratulations and agreement with a lengthy statement calling the ban a “knee-jerk” reaction and noting that connection on social media can be a positive for young teenagers.

“The Greens do not support banning young people from social media because we have listened to the experts. Parents are worried about the safety of their kids, but the government’s knee-jerk policy lets the big tech giants off the hook.

“We have participated in the government’s own inquiry set up to examine an age limit ban in good faith. The PM, on the other hand, hasn’t bothered to listen to any experts and instead is following Peter Dutton’s lead once again.

“We urge the PM, stop following Dutton and his dangerous policies and be a leader in real reform that tackles the scourge of unregulated global platforms profiting off the suffering of everyone, not just our kids.

“Expert after expert is coming out today warning that a ban will not keep our young people safer or make platforms safer, and may actually cause more harm.

“Not even the e-Safety Commissioner supports a ban – the government’s own online safety expert.

“We don’t ban kids from going to the beach – we teach them how to swim and make sure they swim between the flags. There are safety measures put in place to keep them safe – flags, lifeguards, adult supervision, and swimming lessons.

“We need to teach children how to use social media and understand there are many positive benefits, particularly for marginalised kids, to being online.

“If the PM wants to make social media safer, then he should get on with tackling the harmful business practices of the digital platforms.

“Social media giants should be banned from targeting our kids with algorithms and advertising, and from data harvesting, especially of private information.

“Our online spaces should be safe for everyone, and they should be safe whatever age young people get online. The EU and other countries have led the way, and it’s time Australia followed. This is the evidence the inquiry has overwhelmingly heard so far, and it should be listened to.”

Tasmanian independent Senator Tammy Tyrrell was more succinct but similarly against Labor’s proposed ban.

“The proposed social media ban for kids smacks of ‘won’t somebody please think of the children!’

“I’m yet to see anyone put forward an age verification process that’ll work and doesn’t ask kids to hand over important data to social media companies. If someone of my age knows about virtual private networks (VPNs), then the kids definitely do!”

Which… is kind of the point with what is effectively prohibition – it very rarely stops anyone from doing the thing prohibited but does drive an unregulated and unmonitored market in that thing being prohibited.

The kids, as they say, will find a way.

David Hollingworth

David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.