This explainer provides an overview of the complex issue of social media bans for young teens, by providing the background and context surrounding calls for such restrictions. It explains the technical challenges of implementing a ban, the potential risks associated with it, and the specific concerns voiced by parents and carers. By exploring the everyday realities of young people growing up in a digital age and acknowledging the positive aspects of social media for this age group, this explainer aims to provide a balanced overview. Finally, it offers potential solutions and strategies for navigating the challenges and fostering a safe and positive online experience for young teens. Links to further reading and resources are also provided.
Key takeaways
– Banning access to social media is not an effective solution to address valid concerns about children and young people having good experiences online.
– A social media ban will lead to more problems than it solves.
– We must shift our focus from protecting children from the digital environment to protecting them within the digital environment.
– Our goal as a society should not be to exclude children and young people from social media, rather, we should create and facilitate high-quality experiences for children online, which may include social media that provide age-appropriate experiences.
– Policies that seek to exclude youth from social media should be overturned in favour of investing in developing Australia’s capacity as a global leader in producing and supporting free high-quality online products and services for children, including age-appropriate social media experiences.