Solutions for curbing social media use among young Australians are continuing to be explored as the Victorian Government seeks public consultation on age restrictions.
Open to parents, teachers and children, the online survey – which will collate peoples’ experiences and concerns – will inform an education program – Safe Socials – to be delivered in schools across the state.
“We’re now consulting on how to best protect our students from the harms of social media and developing resources to provide teachers with high-quality, best-practice materials to teach digital literacy and safety,” minister for education Ben Carroll said.
The $3.5-million program will also include a dedicated website and fact sheets to help parents and carers understand the harms of social media and to help young people navigate platforms safely.
“There are benefits to social media, but when it comes to kids and young people the bad often outweighs the good,” minister for youth Natalie Suleyman said. “Age limits will give parents the power to push back against the tech giants, and Safe Socials will help kids old enough to sign up know how to use it safely.”
The consultation process will also include a series of roundtable discussions with key stakeholders to brainstorm solutions that will inform Commonwealth laws for national age limits on social media.
In that regard, prime minister Anthony Albanese has sent a letter to state and territory counterparts to seek their views on how a social media ban for children would work in practice. In particular, premiers and chief ministers are being asked at what age the ban should lift.
“We know social media is doing social harm,” said Albanese in a statement. “Protecting children from harm is a shared responsibility across all governments, as well as industry, civil society and communities.”
The PM’s letter also contained a number of proposals, including an exemption for teenagers already holding social media accounts and the possibility of introducing parental permissions rather than enforcing an outright ban.
The South Australian Government has led the push for a social media ban recommending a model which would see channels such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram required to take “systemic responsibility” for blocking social media access to under-14s.
The NSW Government also backs restrictions, with premier Chris Minns favouring a ban for under-16s.
Both governments are co-hosting social media summits this week which will bring together stakeholders to discuss the impacts of social media on young people’s lives and how government can best support digital wellbeing.
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