Australia’s under-16 social media ban will make the nation a real-life laboratory on how best to tackle the technology’s impact on young people, experts say. Source: The Australian.
Those in favour of the world-first December 10 ban point to a growing body of studies suggesting that excessive time online takes a toll on teen wellbeing.
But opponents argue there is not enough hard proof to warrant the new legislation, which could do more harm than good.
Adolescent brains are still developing into the early 20s, said psychologist Amy Orben, who leads a digital mental health program at the University of Cambridge.
A “huge amount” of observational research, often based on surveys, has tracked a correlation between teen tech use and worse mental health, she told AFP.
But it is hard to draw firm conclusions, because phones are so ingrained into daily life, and young people may turn to social media because they are already suffering.
“With technology, because it’s changing so fast, the evidence base will always be uncertain,” Ms Orben said.
“What could change the dial are experimental studies or evaluations of natural experiments. So evaluating the Australia ban is hugely important because it actually gives us a window on what might be happening.”
To try and shed light on the cause-and-effect relationship, Australian researchers are recruiting 13- to 16-year-olds for a “Connected Minds Study” to assess how the ban affects their wellbeing.
A World Health Organisation survey last year found that 11 per cent of adolescents struggled to control their use of social media.
Other research has shown a link between excessive social media use and poor sleep, body image, school performance and emotional distress.
More than three-quarters of Australian adults agreed with the new legislation before it passed, a poll indicated.
However, an open letter signed by more than 140 academics, campaigners and other experts cautioned that a ban would be “too blunt an instrument”.
In any case, the political decision has been taken in Australia.
“Social media is doing social harm to our children,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this year.
“There is no doubt that Australian kids are being negatively impacted by online platforms, so I’m calling time on it.”
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Australia ban offers test on social media harm (AFP via The Australian)
