The issue of social media access for children is one that every parent can relate to and as a father of three young kids, I am particularly concerned about it.
We need stronger laws and a better approach to protect our children from the potential harms that social media can bring.
Kids today are spending between 4 to 7 hours a day on average on their phones, often at the expense of their wellbeing.
I was proud to support the 36 Months campaign, led by Michael “Wippa” Wipfli and Hamish Blake, which advocates for raising the minimum social media access age from 13 to 16.
When they brought this campaign to Parliament, it highlighted how crucial this delay is, giving children more time to mature before facing the pressures of the online world.
Organisations like Wait Mate, co-founded by Davina Berger and Amy Friedlander, are also making great strides in raising awareness about the dangers of unrestricted smartphone access.
I recently met with Davina and learned about their work in this area.
It’s clear that children’s development is suffering as they spend more time on their phones, receiving over 200 notifications a day, instead of engaging in healthy activities.
Studies, such as those by Jonathan Haidt, show that 46% of teens are constantly online, leading to higher rates of anxiety, depression and even suicide.
Many apps are designed to be addictive, much like gambling machines and it’s concerning that one in four children have experienced cyberbullying.
Sleep disruption is another issue, with smartphones significantly reducing the quality and quantity of sleep, which is essential for children’s growth and mental health.
Tim Levy, founder of Qoria, created a social media monitoring app after the tragic cyberbullying-related suicide of his niece’s best friend.
Despite his important work, Qoria faces unfair challenges from tech giants like Google, Apple and Microsoft, who limit access to parental control apps.
We need to address this anti-competitive behaviour.
As the Director of the Menzies Research Centre (my former employer) Nick Cater stated “the most dangerous place for children is alone in their bedrooms with a smartphone.”
It’s time to take decisive action and implement policies that protect our children’s wellbeing.
Now is the time for change.
