Emma Pritchard

After the Albanese Government recently announced a proposal to introduce new laws to prohibit youths aged 16 and under from accessing and using social media, citing the changes are aimed at mitigating the harm social media is inflicting on Australian children, the Clarence Valley Independent decided to conduct a street survey.

Throughout the past several days, we spoke to a number of participants who agreed to share their thoughts on the announcement with us.

We asked them how effective they believe the new laws would be, if they support them, what further actions could or should be taken to better protect children under 16 on social media, and if/or how the proposed changes will affect them.

Adam Calleja: I think it’s a great initiative, but I really can’t see it being successful. Almost every kid uses social media to communicate these days. Even if this ban is enforced, I still think there will be millions of kids who will still find ways of accessing social media. Kids are pretty resourceful. If you stop them from doing something they usually just find other means of doing what they want instead.

Chris Djokovich: I don’t think its going to achieve much. It’s a misguided attempt to try and protect kids when the Albanese Government should be investing more towards educating them about the dangers of using social media. I think parents and schools need to step up and work together and reinforce the risks that go hand in hand with being on social media as well. Young kids can be very impressionable, and they need to be more aware of the dangers of being online.

Leeann Everson: While I agree with the concept of banning kids under 16 from accessing and using social media, because I believe its harmful to their mental health, this proposed ban would only delay their exposure to sites such as Facebook and TikTok. And what happens after that? What happens to these kids who the Albanese Government is claiming they’re protecting after they turn 16 and can then ‘legally’ access and use social media? Also, how would the online activities of kids under 16 be policed effectively to ensure they’re abiding by the proposed changes to the legislation? The Albanese Government claims that social media companies will be responsible for ensuring kids under 16 are blocked from accessing and using social media, but they have also claimed they will not be punished if they don’t abide by the age ban. Why put so much emphasis on proposing changes to the legislation if there are not going to be consequences for disregarding them? It’s a good concept, but I believe its heavily flawed.

Kayla Tandy: I’m 14, so I wouldn’t be able to use any social media apps like Facebook or TikTok if there are new laws about age limits. I’m on Facebook and TikTok with my older sisters a lot. I think they’re a lot of fun, and they’re also a great way to message your friends. I would like to get my own social media profiles soon though, but I wouldn’t want to wait until I’m over 16. I think if you’re only using them (Facebook and TikTok) to chat with people you know then its ok. My sisters never chat with or accept friend requests from people they don’t know, and they’re always telling me what’s safe and what isn’t safe to do online, so I always feel safe when I use it with them. I don’t want the ban to happen because I don’t think it will work, and a lot of kids under 16 will still use social media anyway.

Caroline Rosevear: I fully support introducing changes to the legislation to ban under 16-year-olds from getting on social media. So many kids are experiencing cyberbullying nowadays, and as a result they have anxiety, reduced confidence, and low self-esteem, and many are also suffering with mental health related issues because of all the content they’re being exposed to online regarding body images and the latest trends. I think under 16-year-olds are far more impressionable and more easily influenced by what they see online compared to older kids. These proposed changes need to be introduced because I believe they will work to protect younger kids.

Cheyenne Carney: I’m 15 and I don’t care if these changes are made or not. I read that even if these changes are made, people under 16 won’t be punished for using social media, so I don’t think it matters if the changes happen or not.

McKensie Lea: I think it’s a stupid idea. It’s like they (Albanese Government) are just trying to control kids. I’m 14 and I love being on social media. I spend maybe eight hours a day on Facebook, and I won’t stop using it just because some politicians say so.

Hailey Reeger: My mum and I post stuff on her Facebook page and Instagram profile all the time, so even if kids under 16 are banned from having their own profiles there are still other ways to use it (social media). I don’t think the new changes will do much to keep kids safe. Lots of kids are growing up with social media because their parents have it and they’re already exposed to it, so I don’t agree with introducing new laws.

Eva Boone: I think it’s a good idea to stop kids under 16 from using social media. My parents are on Facebook, and I’ve read a lot of really negative comments people post in social groups and even on community information pages, and they’re comments kids don’t need to read because they incite hate and encourage bullying. I support the proposal by the Albanese Government, absolutely.