South Australia’s government is considering implementing a ban on kids below 14 years old from using social media, following in the footsteps of Florida’s lawmakers.
According to Peter Malinauskas, the proposed ban would help safeguard the mental health of the state’s youth.
Under the proposed legislation, minors in the state would need parental consent before they can access social media.
Robert French, a lawyer and a former federal court judge, was tasked with examining how the ban would be carried out in South Australia.
He noted that a regulatory body should be created to oversee the implementation of the legislation.
Under French’s proposal, the regulator could also seek major penalties from the Supreme Court.
The proposed legislation, if it passes, would be the first in the country to impose a ban on minors using social media.
In a statement, the minister noted that he was worried about the effects of social media on the youth.
He said he was aware of the growing number of studies that revealed the harmful effects of it on children’s mental health. He pledged to do everything in his power to safeguard them.
Sonya Ryan OAM, who founded the Carly Ryan Foundation, said that her daughter was killed by a predator after she met him online.
According to Ryan, she supports Malinauskas’s suggestion to introduce tougher regulations regarding the use of social media by minors.
She noted that children are exposed to various harmful content on social media, such as pornography and viral trends. They are also being exploited by online predators.
Numerous studies have revealed that the use of social media by children can have detrimental effects.
These include developing unrealistic expectations, experiencing anxiety and depression, and developing eating disorders.
Ryan said that the government should create regulations and require social media companies to verify the age of their users.