Peter Dutton wants a social media ban. April thinks it is a bad idea

Three of Australia’s largest mental health organisations are pushing back against bipartisan support for an outright ban on social media for people under 16, arguing it risks alienating young people and ignores some of its benefits.

Instead, governments should force social media companies to give users more control over their algorithms and limit harmful features such as infinite scrolling, a joint submission from Beyond Blue, ReachOut and Black Dog Institute argues.

April Willis, 21, says that while social media did negatively impact her mental health, it also helped her find friends at a time when she was struggling. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Beyond Blue chief executive Georgie Harman said an outright ban would let social media companies “off the hook” and state and federal governments would be better off regulating platforms to make them healthier for young people who will use them anyway.

“Prohibition drives behaviour underground,” Harman said. “We want open, healthy conversations with our young people about how to stay safe online.”

Currently, some platforms only allow users 13 and over to join, but do not require them to prove their age.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said last month the Coalition would, if elected, bring in laws forcing social platforms to check if people were at least 16 before opening an account.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he supported the idea if it could be proven effective.

Technology industry veteran Meredith Whittaker told this masthead last month that raising the age to 16 would be technically unenforceable and would result in even more surveillance of users.

For April Willis, being on social media from the age of 12 did negatively impact her mental health and body image, but she believes that had more to do with her lack of education than her age.

“No matter what age someone joins, if they’re not prepared with the skills and knowledge on how to use these apps safely, then yes, it can be a very unsafe space,” said Willis, now 21 and an ambassador for ReachOut.

“Social media can [also] be a great place to connect with other people … I definitely met a lot of amazing, like-minded people through social media when I wasn’t feeling connected with the peers I had at school.”

Key recommendations

1. Limit features such as infinite scrolling, and require default safety settings for users under age 16.
2. Require social media companies to provide regular transparency reports on their algorithms, and release real-time data to Australian public health researchers.
3. Require social media companies to provide easily accessible features for users to customise their own feeds.
4. Require social media companies to establish a model for verification of trusted evidence-based health content.
5. Establish a national fund to promote digital literacy and support research into the impact of social media on mental health.
6. Co-design any future policies with young people and their parents. 

ReachOut director of services Jackie Hallan said young people who felt marginalised, including those in the LGBTQ community, relied on social media for support.

They also increasingly rely on social media for help with their physical and mental health.

“When we spoke to young people about this, one of the changes they want to see is that verification of health content … some way of being able to signal that this is evidence-based and quality content, not just an influencer being paid,” Hallan said.

Black Dog Institute chief scientist Samuel Harvey said the organisation was undertaking long-term research “to find out how we can help young people develop healthier and more beneficial ways of engaging online”.

“We don’t know if young people who use social media to connect with friends are less anxious and depressed because they have more friends, or whether young people passively scroll through content do so because they were already feeling down or anxious,” he said. “Young people are primed for social connection and social media companies combine these natural, human drives with their algorithms to capture and hold the attention of adolescents in ways that aren’t always helpful.”

The joint select committee on social media and Australian society is due to release an interim report in mid-August.

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