Key moments in push to change social media age limits to 16

In the wake of Labor confirming it will back an age limit on social media, we look back through the Let them Be Kids campaign. These are the flashpoints.

3 min read

November 8, 2024 - 4:51PM

Let Them Be Kids kickstarted the calls for a social media age limit.

Calls for the introduction of age restrictions on social media continue to grow as the tragic human toll rises.

News Corp’s Let Them Be Kids campaign continues to push for social media giants to restrict those under 16 from using their platforms in order to avoid toxic online bullying.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to demand more from giant organisations in the wake of the sad death of 12-year-old Brisbane schoolgirl Ella Catley-Crawford.

News of the impending changes sparked a war of words among readers.

These are the flashpoints in the sorry tale of how we got here >>>

■ How much at risk is your child? Take our quiz

Let Them Be Kids launched

News Corp’s Let Them Be Kids campaign, launched in May 2024, played a leading role in pushing the discussion around the damage caused by tech platforms to young people – with that reporting now set to result in seismic changes to online laws.

Reporting included polling compiled for the campaign which exposed the depth of the problem, with a survey of more than 3000 social media users showing 70 per cent of teens had had a negative experience on social media.

International movement’s support

A UK mother campaigning to save children from online harm in September 2024 said the Australian government’s commitment to legislate social media age limits should give other countries confidence to do the same.

Daisy Greenwell, who co-founded parent-led movement Smartphone Free Childhood with her husband Joe Ryrie and friend Clare Fernyhough, said it was fantastic Australia was taking the lead to be brave and stand up to powerful tech companies.

Research continues to show the impact online bullying is having.

‘Fierce lobbying’ from big tech

Australia must brace for a lobbying charm offensive and potential legal challenges, it was reported in September 2024, with similar age limit moves in the US stymied by tech giants.

In the US, internet trade association NetChoice, of which Meta, X, Snap Inc and TikTok are members, has sued states requiring social media companies spend money and time enforcing age limits.

The court challenges have successfully stymied four social media age verification laws in three different states.

Shameful scourge stats

A child aged between 10 to 14 years is dying from suicide every four-and-a-half weeks in Queensland, it was revealed in November 2023.

Preliminary data from the Queensland Family and Child Commission showed 11 kids – aged 10 to 14 – died from suicide in the 2022-23 financial year compared to five in 2021-22 and six in both 2020-21 and 2019-20.

Albanese’s pledge

Anthony Albanese in September 2024 said he was personally in favour of raising the minimum age of social media to 16, but would work with states on a final proposal to ensure Australia ends up with a nationally consistent limit.

The Prime Minister announced his government would legislate an age limit for platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook before the next election due in May, in a move designed to protect children from online harms.

Social media giants are facing renewed pressure.

Trend affecting 98 per cent

Cyber-bullying is pushing teen girls towards cosmetic procedures and eating disorders in frightening numbers, the first study of its kind revealed.

Nearly all girls aged 14-19 have been cyberbullied, with 62 per cent of attacks relating to appearance, making them feel ashamed of their bodies.

The bullying has sparked 92 per cent of them to want to change how they look with dieting and exercise and more than 80 per cent say they want cosmetic procedures.

Support keeps growing

More than 100,000 schoolkids, celebrities, business people and politicians in November 2024 took part in a national initiative to boycott social media for 24 hours, according to the charity behind it.

Unplug24, which was backed by News Corp, was held in memory of Mac Holdsworth, 17, who took his own life after he was sextorted on Instagram and Snapchat.