Social media and children

Australia is planning to legislate a ban on social media for children under 16, the country’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this week. “Social media is doing harm to our kids. I’ve spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online,” the Australian PM said while announcing the decision.

According to Australian authorities, it will be up to social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to actively prevent minors from accessing the networks. “The onus won’t be on parents or young people,” Albanese said.

There is a global dependence on social media and young children are among the most prolific users of social media. It’s not only a tool of entertainment and connectivity but also used for educational purposes.

In Sri Lanka, during the prolonged COVID-19 related lockdown, parents were forced to allow their children access to smartphones to enable them to take part in online classes. Many parents have said that since then it has been difficult to wean their children back from social media given their dependency on it.

Most studies in different countries show that the use of social media has its advantages and disadvantages.

New data from the WHO Regional Office for Europe released in September this year reveals a sharp rise in problematic social media use among adolescents, with rates increasing from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022. These findings come from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, which surveyed almost 280,000 young people aged 11, 13 and 15 across 44 countries and regions in Europe, central Asia and Canada in 2022.

The report defines problematic social media use as a pattern of behaviour characterised by addiction-like symptoms. These include an inability to control social media usage, experiencing withdrawal when not using it, neglecting other activities in favour of social media, and facing negative consequences in daily life due to excessive use.

However, the report also highlights the positive aspects of social media use with adolescents who are heavy but non-problematic users reporting stronger peer support and social connections.

“There are many benefits of social media, especially when it is used in moderation. Among the benefits, there is connection and connectedness. Teenagers may meet others who share their passions and interests,” the report said quoting a teenager they interviewed.

In Sri Lanka we have had many instances where access to social media has led to children falling victim to unscrupulous persons who have used technology to access such users and lure them into phonography or other illegal activities. Smart phones in particular that children have access to have become the gateway through which children are being lured into illicit activities.

Cyberbullying is another troubling aspect of social media usage. Social media can also be a source of anxiety, depression, and low esteem in teenagers and younger children.

However, many parents also allow children phones as they make connectivity easy and are able to keep tabs on where their children are and hence, they feel children are safer when they have a phone with them.

Social media sites have little monitoring to prevent harmful use of social media and hence the onus is now shifting to governments to step in. The Australian decision is likely to be replicated by other countries as well for the wellbeing of young children. Some form of limitations on use of social media by young children in particular is good for their mental and physical wellbeing.

Sri Lanka should also monitor these aspects closely and if necessary, place restrictions on social media usage of those under 16. It has to be done with consultation with parents, educational institutions, etc. in a way that the negative aspects don’t outweigh the positive aspects.