‘America needs you to lead’: Australia leading the way on social media age limits

US psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt, who is leading the charge for age limits on social media, has backed News Corp’s Let Them Be Kids campaign.

America needs Australia to lead the way on imposing age limits on social media to protect our kids, says the academic who has sparked a worldwide discussion about how to give children back their childhood.

US psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt has urged Australian leaders to “keep going” in their fight against big tech companies by imposing a legislated minimum age for kids to access social media.

“Thanks for what you’re doing, keep going,” he said.

“America needs you to lead, so thank you.”

Professor Haidt made the comments to Premier Chris Minns ahead of a nation-leading summit hosted by the NSW and South Australian governments.

Professor Jonathan Haidt has been instrumental in pushing for age limits on social media. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

Mr Minns announced the summit in response to News Corp’s Let Them Be Kids campaign, which called for kids to be kept off social media until they turn 16.

The campaign has led to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledging to legislate a minimum age for kids to access social media.

Professor Haidt – who has strongly backed the News Corp campaign – praised the NSW and South Australian governments for “leading the world” in banning phones in high schools, calling the ban “the most important thing” policy makers can do for kids mental health, inclusion, and “sense of belonging”.

Professor Haidt spoke to NSW Premier Chris Minns ahead of Thursday’s Social Media summit. Picture: Aaron Francis/The Australian

In conversation with the NSW Premier ahead of Thursday’s social media summit, Professor Haidt said it is “ridiculous” to suggest tech companies cannot block kids accessing their platforms.

“These are the most wealthy, brilliant, innovative companies in the world … they created a computational miracle to figure out what ad you, particularly, would want; you think they can’t figure out if someone is 16?” he said.

He said there is “no other theory” to explain an international, synchronised increase in mental illness – particularly in girls – since the early 2010s, other than “the great rewiring of childhood, from a play based childhood – which is what humans need – to a phone based childhood which is inhuman, unnatural and blocks human development”.

“If a consumer product is harming millions of kids and causing the deaths of hundreds or 1000s of kids every year, at some point, government should step in and say: ‘how about you don’t do that’.”

Premier Chris Minns has banned phones from NSW high schools and backs a minimum age for social media use. Picture:NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

Mr Minns has backed banning young teens from social media, but is yet to specify his preferred minimum age.

The social media summit will on Thursday feature keynote speeches from San Diego State University psychology Professor Dr Jean Twenge, and Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen.

The Summit will bring together policymakers, academics, and young people to explore the impacts social media is having on young brains and how to protect kids from harm.

Child psychology experts will discuss how social media is shaping kids’ childhood and adolescence, while Ms Haugen is expected to outline how a lack of oversight and accountability from big tech companies has harmed children worldwide.

Minister for Youth Rose Jackson will also lead a workshop of youth delegates.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas was the first state leader to call for age limits on social media. Picture: Kelly Barnes

The Daily Telegraph last week revealed overwhelming support among NSW residents for keeping kids off social media until they turn 16.

People across all age groups backed age limits, even teenagers themselves. The majority of people who responded to a NSW Government survey backed 16 as the minimum age for social media accounts; 16 and 17 year olds said people should be able to access the platforms after turning 13.

The PM on Wednesday said that his government is close to finalising the age limit he will seek to legislate, describing the cap as “first stage” of ongoing reform.

“I have no doubt at all that whatever measures are put in place, you will need to have a review, see how it’s going,” he told Sky News.

“We know that (social media) is having a very negative impact on young people in particular.

“We know it’s having a negative impact in society in general as well,” he said.

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Originally published as ‘America needs you to lead’: Australia leading the way on social media age limits