Australian PM says children under 16 should be banned from social media
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Anthony Albanese has endorsed banning children from registering social media accounts until they are 16, saying too much online engagement at a young age is seriously damaging their mental health.
The prime minister is backing moves to raise the minimum age for registering social media accounts from 13 to 16 to give teenagers extra time to grow without being subjected to social pressures that can be exacerbated online.
“What we want is our youngest Australians spending more time outside playing sport, engaging with each other in a normal way and less time online,” Albanese told Nova FM radio on Tuesday. “And one way to do that is through restrictions on social media.”
He said the often-vicious commentary on social media could harm adults and have an even worse impact on children.
“It can be devastating,” Albanese said, adding: “I don’t look at the comments on my social media because, if I did, I’d find it difficult to leave the house in the morning. People will say things anonymously that are terrible.”
Nova FM is running a campaign to raise the minimum registration age to 16 and has started a petition, “36 months”, calling for government to “raise the threshold for social media citizenship” through a 36-month delay in the age at which children can have an account, to give them more time to develop without exposure to its influence.
In an interview on Tuesday morning Albanese declined the program presenters’ invitation to sign the petition himself – arguing that it was ultimately directed at him – but endorsed it overall and urged others to sign.
“I assure you I am very supportive of the work that is taking place and I would encourage people to go to 36months.com.au,” Albanese said.
