Editorial: Act now to save kids from social media

Months after an age verification trial began, children are still accessing inappropriate material online, writes the editor.

In May, in response to the Let Them Be Kids campaign run by The Courier-Mail and our sister publications across Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backed our calls for the minimum age of social media users to be raised to 16.

Currently, major social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X require users to be at least 13 years old to create an account.

But the horror stories told by parents of bullying and abuse on social media, as well as evidence from psychologists, convinced most state and federal politicians that action needed to be taken.

While Mr Albanese backed our calls, he went on to say: “We want to make sure that any measures that are put in place are effective, because one of the concerns is … that age protocols may be circumvented by users at the moment.”

He pointed out that his government was undertaking a $6.5m age verification trial and was working closely with the eSafety commissioner to ensure “any impediments that are put in place that restrict young people from having access to social media will work”.

While these are indeed real issues, the fact is that months later kids are still allowed and able to access social media sites, particularly TikTok, without any legal or technical impediment.

As we report today, a new report that tracked app and online usage of 19,000 Aussie families has shown that not only are half of all 10-15-year-olds on the app, they spend an average of two hours a day on it.

Perhaps even more disturbingly, the Qustodio study found nearly 40 per cent of kids aged seven to nine have an X (formerly Twitter) account, a platform notoriously indifferent to misinformation and graphic material.

They are shocking figures and they point to a continuation, possibly even an extension, of the damage that irresponsible social media companies are doing to Australian families.

While Mr Albanese’s desire to have a foolproof mechanism is understandable – obviously kids are already bypassing the 13-years-old age restrictions – he risks losing momentum on this issue if he waits for a perfect solution. He risks making perfect the enemy of good.

By legislating a new minimum social media age at the earliest opportunity – a move that would have bipartisan support – he immediately puts the pressure back on to the social medial giants to abide by the new laws or face the consequences.

He also gives parents a new weapon – “it’s against the law” – that may work on younger kids.

It would be something, and it would be better than nothing.

But as Professor Selena Bartlett, a neuroscientist and author of Being Seen, a guide for parents in the digital age, says, an age limit would only be one step in protecting our kids.

“We need stringent regulations, content moderation and ratings, the development of child and adolescent-safe devices and technology, the promotion of public health campaigns and mental health resources and increased digital literacy and safety,” she said.

“These measures are essential to mitigate risks and protect our children and adolescents.

“Addressing the influence and impact of social media on Australian society requires a multifaceted and courageous approach.”

Indeed it does. And Mr Albanese should start now.

BRING EKKA TO 2032 GAMES

It’s a great testament to Queenslanders’ love of the Ekka that despite wet and windy weather marring several days, including People’s Day, more than 340,000 people still made it through the gates.

And it’s a great testament to the appetites of those 340,000 people that 180,000 dagwood dogs were consumed, as well as 142,000 strawberry sundaes.

The tastes, the sights and indeed the smells of Ekka are ingrained in the minds of every Queenslander. It’s not just a link between the city and the bush. For thousands of families it is a direct link to the past, with generations following in each other’s footsteps through sideshow alley, the showbag pavilion, the woodchopping and the main arena for the grand parade.

That tradition, broken only five times in 148 years (including for Covid in 2020 and 2021) looks like it will be put on hold again in 2032, with the showgrounds to be used for Olympic showjumping and the packed regional show calendar making a postponement impractical.

Let’s hope a little taste of the Ekka can be introduced for the Olympics and Paralympics, in the same way a pop-up strawberry sundae stand helped Brisbane through our Covid Ekka cancellation.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here