Is banning social media going to keep children safe?

Australia is making plans to stop children under 16 from using social media. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants kids to spend more time outdoors and less time on their screens. He believes social media is harmful to young people, especially when it comes to their mental health. The ban, which will require age verification, is expected to start soon, although some experts worry about how this will actually work.

Kids Are Already on Social Media at a Young Age

Even though the proposed ban is aimed at kids under 16, many children much younger are already active on social media. Studies show that:

• A 2021 study by the nonprofit Thorn revealed that 45% of children under 13 use Facebook daily, while 40% use Instagram (owned by Facebook/Meta)
• These kids often lie about their age to create profiles, entering fake birthdates.

This early exposure means young kids are navigating online spaces designed for older teens and adults, often without parents knowing the full risks.

How Did Age Limits for Social Media Start?

The minimum age for social media wasn’t based on what age is “right” for kids. It actually came from a U.S. law called COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act), passed in 1998.

This law said websites couldn’t collect data from kids under 13 without permission from parents. To make things simple, social media platforms just decided to set 13 as the minimum age to use their services.

But this law is really about privacy, not whether kids are ready for social media. Now, with more awareness about online safety, some countries like Australia are rethinking whether 13 is the right age.

Why social media is bad for children?

Here are some of the obvious risks of social media among many others (there is a whole blog dedicated to this issue) :

1. Mental Health Risks:

• A study of American teens ages 12-15 found those who used social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptom

2. Cyberbullying:

• 68% of girls nationally reported having a negative experience on a social networking sites

3. Body Image and Eating Disorders:

• A study from the University of Pittsburgh found that those who spent more time on social media had 2.2 times the risk of reporting eating and body image concerns compared to peers who spent less time

5. Addiction and Excessive Use:

• 33% of girls 11 to 15 years old feel addicted to social media

Is banning social media the answer?

While I understand the risks social media poses to young people—like cyberbullying, grooming, and mental health struggles—I wonder if banning it entirely is the right solution.

Here are some problems of banning of social media:

• Sneaking onto platforms: If kids are blocked from social media, many may still find ways to sneak on by lying about their age. Without proper age verification, this could expose them to adult content that’s even more harmful.
• Lack of proper age verification: Right now, there isn’t a reliable system to verify users’ ages without invading their privacy. So, blocking children could backfire, driving them into more dangerous, unregulated online spaces.
• Risk of unsafe alternatives: If kids can’t use mainstream platforms, they might turn to unmonitored, unsafe apps or websites where they have no protection. This could put them in more danger than they would face on regulated social media sites with child-safety measures.

Role of social media companies

Duty of care by social media platforms: Instead of just focusing on banning, social media companies should take responsibility by changing how their platforms work for kids. This includes:

• Creating age-appropriate algorithms to filter what children see.
• Offering safer, child-friendly versions of their platforms.
• Ensuring that younger users have limited access to certain content, ads, or interactions with strangers.

But the question remains, do social media companies really care about our children?

During congressional hearings, social media executives have often been criticized for avoiding direct answers about child safety. For example, in a 2021 hearing, Facebook (now Meta) CEO Mark Zuckerberg was accused of dodging questions about Instagram’s impact on teen mental health.

Watch the video below

What About the Kids Who Will Miss Social Media?

There are some children who might feel like they’re missing out because of this ban, including:

• Kids who struggle to make friends in real life: Social media can help children who feel shy, lonely, or isolated find others like them.
• Children with unique interests: Sometimes it’s hard to find people in your local community who share your hobbies or passions. Online groups can help connect kids with others who have the same interests.
• Neurodiverse children: May find it easier to interact online rather than in person. Social media can offer them a safe space to communicate.

What is the solution? Why I am in support of this ban :

As someone deeply concerned about online safety for kids, I support Australia’s decision to ban social media for children under 16. However, we must be careful not to make children feel left out in the process.

It’s important to create safer online spaces where kids can hang out and find like-minded people without being exposed to the harmful aspects of today’s social media.

Right now, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok aren’t designed with children in mind, and we need to acknowledge that.

At the same time, we need to build alternatives that are just as engaging. For example, YouTube Kids has clunky features that pale in comparison to the regular YouTube experience, which makes it less appealing for kids.

Social media companies have a duty of care, and until countries impose meaningful sanctions, these platforms won’t make the necessary changes to protect children.

By limiting access until children are older, we allow them the time to develop emotional and mental maturity to handle the pressures of social media.

Parents still need to be involved when their children are ready, ensuring they understand how to use these platforms responsibly. But we also need to work towards creating safer, more child-friendly online experiences that match the quality of existing platforms.