Heads of House
Raising the Social Media Age Limit: A Positive Step, But Not the Only One
In light of recent discussions, there has been increasing support for raising the minimum age for social media access from 13 to 16. While this change is a positive step towards protecting children, Dolly’s Dream, a leading organization dedicated to preventing bullying, believes that it is only part of the solution. According to CEO Sarah Davies, raising the age limit is beneficial, but it must be accompanied by stronger safety measures and better design practices on social media platforms to ensure the safety of children online.
The Case for Raising the Minimum Age
Raising the minimum age for social media access can provide several advantages. Adolescence is a critical time for emotional and social development, and exposure to potentially harmful content on social media can have lasting effects on young minds. By increasing the age limit, we can reduce the risk of younger children encountering inappropriate material, cyberbullying, and online predators.
This age increase can also give children more time to develop the maturity needed to navigate the complex digital world. With added years of growth, they are likely to make more informed decisions about what they post, who they interact with, and how they use social media. Furthermore, raising the age requirement can empower parents and guardians to better control when and how their children engage with these platforms, creating a safer online experience.
Why Safety by Design is Essential
While raising the age limit is an important step, it is not enough on its own. Social media platforms must be designed with safety in mind to truly protect young users. Dolly’s Dream advocates for "safety by design" principles, which require digital products and services to default to the highest privacy and safety settings for users under 18. This would ensure that all children, regardless of age, are protected from harmful content and predatory behaviour.
How Parents and Carers Can Support Their Children
While systemic changes are necessary, parents and carers play a crucial role in keeping children safe online. Here are some practical steps that can help:
- Stay Informed: Understand the latest digital trends, social media platforms, and potential risks. By knowing what your child is using, you can better identify and address any threats.
- Set Up Privacy Controls: Ensure that all devices and accounts have the highest privacy settings enabled. Regularly update these settings to protect personal information and limit exposure to inappropriate content.
- Encourage Safe Online Practices: Teach your child to use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication for added security. Discuss the importance of not sharing personal information online.
- Foster Open Communication: Keep the lines of communication open. Encourage your child to talk about their online experiences and report any suspicious activity or content. This will help them feel supported and less likely to hide their social media use.
- Report Harmful Content: If your child encounters online harm, report it to Australia’s independent regulator, eSafety. This organization helps address and prevent serious online abuse or illegal content.
- Participate in Digital Literacy Education: Engage with your child’s school and community programs that offer digital literacy and data privacy education. This will equip both you and your child with the knowledge needed to navigate the online world safely.
Conclusion
Raising the minimum age for social media access is a positive step towards protecting children online, but it must be part of a broader strategy that includes safety by design. By combining these efforts with proactive parenting and community support, we can create a safer digital environment for our children. As Dolly’s Dream emphasizes, safeguarding young users requires a collective effort from government, tech companies, parents, and the entire community. Together, we can empower our children to navigate the online world safely and confidently.
