Kids under 14 could be banned from using social media

Children under the age of 14 could be banned from using social media in a controversial new government proposal.

Children under the age of 14 will be banned from using social media and companies could face million dollar fines if kids create accounts under a new proposal that could be rolled out across Australia.

Under the plan, children under 14 will be banned from signing up and tech companies will need to gain parental consent before allowing 14 or 15 year olds to use their platforms.

Father of four and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas is urging the states to embrace the plan on Monday, warning “parents are tearing their hair out”.

Comparing social media to selling children cigarettes, he warned that while governments did nothing a generation of Australians were suffering devastating mental health impacts.

Mr Malinauskas accused social media giants of “buck-passing” and blame-shifting over the problem despite the fact “the technology does exist”.

Kids under 14 could be banned from using social media. Picture: iStock

“They just don’t want it to be their problem, they want it to be someone else’s,’’ he said.

“I think we’ve got to call time on that approach. I mean, these are the companies themselves that are making the money off the back of, and we should be clear about this, they are industrialising addiction. They profiteer from young people’s addiction.”

Mr Malinauskas said he was concerned that the addictive elements of social media represented “a very deliberate model”.

“So if they’re going to take that approach they’re the ones that should wear the responsibility for their actions,” he said.

The proposal was designed by former High Court Chief Justice Robert French who was tasked by Mr Malinauskas with examining the legal and technological issues related to banning young children from using social media.

The 276-page report includes the draft Children (Social Media Safety) Bill, which the government is using as a starting point for public consultation.

South Australian Labor Leader Peter Malinauskas has urged other states to embrace the plan. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Warning social media giants including Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook were “industrialising addiction”, the SA Premier said a generation of younger Australians was being damaged by out-of-control social media giants.

Mr Malinauskas said he expected social media companies to resist the changes but he wanted to work with companies if they are willing.

“Well, see, it’s interesting, isn’t it? Because, I mean, Meta is, you know, as significant a company as Apple or Google in many respects,” he said.

“I mean, they’ve got huge balance sheets. Them calling for someone else to implement the technology um seems to be nothing more than buck-passing.

“We’re not putting the obligation on parents. We’re not putting the obligation on children.

“We’re putting the obligation on social media services themselves. The casino just can’t let a 16-year-old walk on a building and start punting. No different to Sportsbet online. So we put the obligation upon the companies that provide these services, and social media should be no different.”

The new proposal has been met with mixed opinions. Picture: iStock

The SA Premier said it was clear the status quo was not the answer.

“I mean, Facebook’s been around a long time now, where is it? I mean, these companies, I think Facebook included, have got a requirement on age restrictions that they already put in place,’’ he said.

“They talk a good game. They’ve got policies and procedures. And then almost every single kid has got access to social media. The status quo isn’t working.

“My point is that the government vacating the field is no longer an option. We’ve got parents around the country tearing their hair out during this. We’ve got kids who are suffering the most adverse of mental health consequences.

“We are potentially creating a whole generation of young people who don’t appreciate what social engagement in a more healthy environment looks like and that requires governments to act.”