Alarmed by these developments, Australia recently announced an effective ban on social media use for children under 16. This action has created a dynamic youth services and advocates dialogue all over the country. The Northern Territory is the third jurisdiction, after Queensland and New South Wales, to pass this statewide ban. We applaud this decision to defend the wellbeing of our children from the known dangers posed by social media platforms. This trailblazing policy limits access on some of youth’s most frequented, addictive platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. It’s designed to improve the online safety for younger Australians.
Effective immediately, the new regulations require children under the age of 16 to prove their age to access social media platforms. Perhaps most glaringly, end-to-end encrypted private messaging applications such as Facebook Messenger are still excluded from this prohibition. Supporters of the measure claim it will prevent young users from accessing harmful content. Yet many youth workers fear that it may have unintended consequences that threaten their safety and wellbeing.
Concerns from Youth Workers
Kat Lee operates Aunties Place, a traditional local youth service. She fears that the new social media prohibition will drive at-risk teenagers even further underground, making it more difficult for her to reach them. It’s left many of the kids she’s seen surprised that they needed to check their age for access to these platforms. Much of this confusion came about only once the ban went into effect.
Lee states, “They know they can get on there [to] access us … and they don’t have to remember or rely on phone numbers, data, credit.” And youth services are growing more alarmed. Further, they worry that the ban may further isolate at-risk teens who often rely on social media as a form of social connection.
Issy, a young participant at Aunties Place, describes his struggles of maneuvering through life before the ban. After a sad episode in which he robbed a service station, he sought help from Aunties Place. “It’s about how to make a change … forget everything in the past, stop stealing stuff,” Issy explains. His comments underscore the obstacles that high-risk youth face. Their stories highlight the important work of programs that are specialized to assist these young people in changing the trajectories of their lives.
Support for the Ban
Advocates for the ban—including up-and-coming Negro artists Yung Milla—are optimistic about its positive effects. He agrees that social media can provide great benefits, but more importantly there are great dangers for youth on these platforms. “There’s a lot of things on there that kids shouldn’t be seeing,” he remarks.
Yung Milla, along with his brother J-Milla, has developed a dedicated fanbase across regional and remote Australia through their music. He writes that diehard fans will seek artists on their preferred platforms well beyond the walled social media gardens. “If they really are fans or supporters, they will be on my Spotify, listening to my songs there — social media is only for imagery,” he asserts.
The Australian government isn’t hiding the ball about what it hopes to accomplish with this legislation. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated the ban’s focus on protecting children’s health. He argues that the initiative is meant to build a safer online environment. A spokesperson for Communications Minister Anika Wells noted that “the legislation incorporates extensive feedback received through consultation with key stakeholders including young Australians.”
Legal Challenges Ahead
Later this year, the High Court of Australia will hear from two Australian teenagers who are challenging the legislation. The legal ramifications of this extraordinary ban are just beginning to play out. Debates over the effects of this new policy continue. To be sure, countless eyes are tracking it to see how it will shape the national conversation and drive improved youth engagement and services across Australia.
The rollout of this social media ban has led to a still-evolving and complicated conversation among youth workers, artists, and policymakers to be sure. Child safety always should be at the forefront, but so should the need for protective services to quickly and efficiently help at-risk youth before it’s too late. As Australia charts its way through this new world, the trade-off between safety and accessibility will be key to ensuring consensus for years to come.
