State leaders deny a ground-breaking social media summit is a talkfest and say an age limit is just one idea that will be on the agenda.
A two-day, jointly hosted summit between the NSW and South Australian governments started in Sydney on Thursday, with discussions expected to focus on the details of the youth ban rather than whether it will be introduced.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and a host of state leaders – including NSW Premier Chris Minns and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas – have backed an age limit but are yet to disclose where the cut-off should be set.
But Mr Malinauskas said a minimum age would have to be one of a number of responses to the “unregulated experiment” that is children on social media.
“We can advance not just the sense of momentum around the policy idea, but actually cement and bed down what other reforms can come on top of an age limit,” he told ABC radio.
“It’s not a silver bullet when it comes to the challenges social media presents young people, and we’ve got to be exploring every possible policy lever.”
Youth mental health organisation ReachOut warned that removing social media would block access to what has become a key support for a younger generation.
Its research, based on a survey of more than 2000 people aged 16 to 25, found nearly three-quarters routinely relied on social media platforms for mental health support.
More than half of those surveyed with probable mental health conditions said they turned to social platforms for help because of a lack of access to professional treatment.
“Young people are using social media to access free mental health information available around the clock … it’s vital to discuss what other mental health supports will be provided if social media bans are introduced,” ReachOut chief executive Gary Groves told AAP.
Former High Court Chief Justice Robert French has put forward a model where a social media service that does more good than harm would be exempt from a ban.
The prime minister has written to state and territory leaders for input on how an age ban on social media could be implemented, along with their preference for the limit and how parental consent could be included.
A report set to be released by the eSafety Commission will show a whopping 84 per cent of kids aged eight to 12-year-olds surveyed had used at least one social media service this year.
That is despite existing age limits sitting at 13 years old for creating social media accounts.
“It’s clear the technology industry needs to do so much more, not least to enforce their own rules, but for many parents, the horse has already bolted,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant will tell the summit.
Premier Minns said SA’s proposal, which is a minimum age of 14 with parental consent required until 16 “may be the way to go”.
The summit will feature a keynote address from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.
She quit the company in 2021 and revealed documents showing the social media giant was more concerned with profits than user safety.
The summit will shift to Adelaide on Friday.
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