Resources on young children and social media
A list of resources on children and social media to help you navigate discussions on a social media ban.
An age ban on social media is unworkable – what are the alternatives?
Written by Professor Axel Bruns FAHA and Dr Aleesha Rodriguez. Published by the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
There’s been much talk recently about whether children under 18 should be banned from accessing social media. Many claim social media negatively impacts children’s wellbeing. But is exclusion the answer? What are the other solutions?
Professor Axel Bruns FAHA from QUT Digital Media Research Centre and Dr Aleesha Rodriguez from the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child examine how we can keep children safe online — while still upholding their rights to information and education.
Kids under 13 use social media. How can parents help keep them safe online?
Written by Karley Beckman, Claire Rogerson, and Tiffani Apps
According to a 2022 Australian report, 22% of children aged eight to ten and 46% of children aged 11–13 visit social media sites. This suggests parents are involved in setting up and supporting children’s access.
We also know schools use social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, to share activities that involve children and young people.
There are several things parents of younger children can do to protect their kids on social media and prepare them to participate safely.
Nearly 150 academics and leading experts argue a total ban will not address the real risks of social media
- Bans affect rights to access and participation.
- Parental consent does not fix unsafe products.
- Parents and carers often are not ‘the experts’, but will still be asked to make informed decisions.
- Implementing a ban effectively remains a challenge.
- It creates even more risks for children who may still use platforms.
- It fails to drive up safety standards on platforms children will be allowed to use.
What can parents and carers do to help children use social media safely?
Published by ABC. Features an interview with Professor Michael Dezuanni.
Australia is the latest nation with plans to introduce an age limit to social media platforms, while Instagram’s parent company Meta have recently rolled out “teen accounts” for those under 18.
Questions remain how either measure would be enforced but in the meantime, teenagers continue to access popular apps such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Youtube.
So what can parents and caregivers do to help children navigate social media safely?
Response to the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society
Written by Tiffani Apps and Karley Beckman
Age limits are limited as protective measures. They do not help children learn to safely use social media.
What can we do instead? Read Dr Tiffani Apps and Dr Karley Beckman‘s submission to the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society.
On the right: See also – Digital Child experts Professor Michael Dezuanni and Dr Amanda Levido provide input to the Joint Select Committee.
Australia’s dummy spit over kids on social media isn’t the answer. We need an internet for children
Written by Dr Aleesha Rodriguez.
Discussion over a social media ban is a distraction from the need to develop of high-quality experiences online for children of different ages.
The internet, including social media, was not made with children and young people in mind. This is why online experiences are not always good for children and sometimes even exploitative, risky, and deeply problematic. No wonder parents are worried, educators are at a loss and the government feels compelled to act. But banning children from social media is not the answer.
Looking for more resources?
We have more resources focused on social media and young children! Check them out here.
See also
Harnessing the feed: social media for mental health information and support
This report takes an in-depth look at the changing ways that young people use digital spaces for mental health information, what factors influence how they engage, and the implications for the mental health sector. The survey analysis shows that young people increasingly rely on social media for information, support and connection.
In particular, the report highlights the way that social media use interacts with traditional channels for accessing mental health support, finding that although social media helps to raise awareness of mental health support and access to professional help, it does also sometimes replace it for young people who either cannot access or do not want professional help. The report also shows that young people are discerning in the resources they seek out (preferencing material from mental health professionals) and that they want digital platforms to do more to filter, monitor and flag misinformation.
Key findings
- 73% of young people use social platforms for mental health purposes.
- TikTok, YouTube and Instagram account for over 70% of young people’s preferred social media platforms.
- 66% of participants identified increased awareness of their mental health as a benefit of engaging with online content.
- 51% of young people facing mental health challenges use social media as a substitute for professional support.
- 47% said it encouraged them to seek professional support.
- 63% of young people have encountered misleading or harmful mental health content.
- 58% report fact-checking mental health information before following it.
Reflecting on digital wellbeing and safety for young children
Published by the Digital Child.
With international and domestic discussions on banning children and young people from social media, this report is a timely contribution that aims to inform stakeholders working with and for children in Australia.
