Australia’s social media ban for children draws both cheers and fears from experts

They use it to seek information, to learn new skills, to educate themselves, to self-organise and take action on the many issues that impact their lives,

Prof Third told CNA’s Asia Now

We saw less bullying at school, better academic results for kids, and a decline in mental health care needs,

Dr Einstein said

The drivers to stay connected to social media are just too strong,

she said, pointing to emotional effects such as a sense of validation when getting a ‘like’ or other reactions to a post, as well as fears over what others online think

This is) especially at that early high school age, where it's so important to fit in, and where you worry about whether people like you or not, and how you look, when you're not yet secure,

she added

Unfortunately, the ban that's being pushed through has largely been in response to parents’ anxieties about their children's digital practices. But it is not a solution that will go all the way (in resolving the problem),

she said

By evicting children from social media platforms, you take away all incentive for technology platforms to design for children and to make sure that they can be safe online and have strong and productive experiences,

she said

I don’t think it’s desirable … for young people who are going to seek a lot of social support on social networks, in online communities,

Emmanuelle Parent, co-founder of an organization that promotes healthy online habits, told the committee in September

We were happy to see this measure approved by the Australian government. It gave us hope for what we proposed,

Aurélie Diep, president of the youth wing of the CAQ, said in an interview

There is currently no miracle solution for how to verify a child’s age to access digital platforms,

she told the committee

In the evening, before I go to bed, I say to myself, ‘one last look at Instagram and then I’m going to bed,’

she said

Platforms now have a social responsibility to ensure the safety of our kids is a priority for them,

he said

Our proposal is to revise Law No. 5651 to impose a prohibition on social media use for individuals under 13, specifically targeting students in the middle-school age bracket,

he elaborated

Peter Malinauskassouth Australia Premier

I remember precisely the moment that she said to me 'you've got to read this book and you've got to do something about it',

South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas told reporters in Adelaide on Friday, a day after the country's federal parliament passed a nationwide social media ban for youths under 16.

Robert Frenchformer judge

I'm pleased to see that it's got as far as it has in Australia,

said Robert French, the former High Court judge commissioned by Malinauskas in May to report on whether a state-based age restriction would be possible

Anthony Albaneseaustralian Prime Minister

Parents want their kids off their phones and on the footy field,

said Albanese, who like Malinauskas is from the centre-left Labor party

The basic sensible model is in place,

French said by telephone

Last week, the parliament’s own committee said the ‘causal link with social media appears unclear,’ with respect to the mental health of young Australians, whereas this week the rushed Senate Committee report pronounced that social media caused harm,

it said in a statement in the early hours of Friday

Moving forward, it's critical that the Australian government works closely with industry to fix issues created by this rushed process. We want to work together to keep teens safe and reduce the unintended consequences of this law for all Australians,

it said

It] sets Australia up as a test case for a growing number of governments which have legislated, or have said they plan to legislate, an age restriction on social media,

their article read

This risks driving children into less regulated spaces and restricting their access to valuable online tools,

she noted