Parents’ concerns over social media addiction in teens

Parent-run campaigns highlighting harms have convinced both major political parties to introduce higher, enforceable age limits. Photo / Getty Images

Thousands of parents and teenagers have highlighted social media’s negative impacts, including addiction and other harms, in a major survey.

Six in seven respondents backed age restrictions for social media use, with 16 being the most suggested minimum age.

The New South Wales Government survey, taking in views from 21,000 people, revealed usage steadily increased with a child’s age.

Seventy per cent of 10- to 12-year-olds were already on the apps, while those aged 16 and 17 averaged more than three hours a day.

Young people cited concerns over excessive screen time, with two out of three teens aged 16 to 17 saying social media distracts them from essential tasks, such as schoolwork and family obligations.

Parents highlighted addiction, exposure to inappropriate content and the detrimental effect on their children’s daily responsibilities.

The most frequently mentioned issues included cyber security risks, exposure to harmful content and concerns over how social media usage is affecting children’s behaviour.

“Parents are concerned about how social media is impacting the lives of young people,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said on Friday.

“The huge response to this survey sends a powerful message about the extent of community concern.

“Parents and children are rightly concerned about this giant global unregulated experiment on young people.”

Social media platforms generally forbid under-13s from creating accounts in their terms and conditions.

However, parent-run campaigns highlighting harms have convinced both major political parties to introduce higher, enforceable age limits.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has announced plans to lift the age limit to 16, while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged to enforce a minimum age but is yet to reveal details.

Raising the age has also won support from the premiers of NSW and South Australia, leading to a rare dual-state conference where experts, policymakers and young people will consider age-based bans and how to improve digital wellbeing.

We are hosting a two-day Social Media Summit to explore the impact of social media on young people and ways to support digital well-being. 📲

Parents and carers are invited to join online on Thursday, 10 October 2024. Stay tuned for live stream details: https://t.co/Y7jg5vWXDv pic.twitter.com/ZJDfiulkSD

— David Saliba (@DavidSalibaMP) October 3, 2024

The first-of-its-kind Social Media Summit starts in Sydney on Thursday, before moving to Adelaide on Friday.

Tighter restrictions haven’t been universally backed.

Mental health organisations warned federal MPs this week a blanket ban would cause harm, while a young journalist aired concern a wide-reaching ban could impact education.

“When there’s danger in the water, we don’t teach kids to stay out of the water, we teach them to swim, right?” 6 News Australia’s 16-year-old founder Leonardo Puglisi told a federal inquiry this week.