In Australia, kids under the age of 13 are not allowed to use social media. Data showing social media can cause depression and anxiety in children is already available, however, a new study shows it can effect minors in other areas.
A psychology professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Quensland, Australia, found that social media use can thwart a young person’s identity development.
Identity development begins between the ages of 11 and 15 and helps a person develop and understanding of who they are and what they want to become.
According to the professor, social media can cause adolescents to obsess over how they compare to influencers online. This leads to young people not critically thinking about what they are seeing or analyzing the information “to forge their own identity.”
Now the study’s question is: Should social media be banned for people under the age of 16 in Australia?
In the U.S., Congress is working to pass a set of bills trying to expand protections and privacy for children online. On Tuesday, July 30, the Senate voted 901 to 3 to pass the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) as well as the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act.
These bills require tech companies to provide minors with options to protect their information, disable addictive product features and opt out of personalized algorithms.
KOSA was co-authored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.
“What we’re doing is giving the parents and kids the tools to disconnect from harmful content — bully, eating disorders, stuff that really hurts them,” Blumenthal said.
Parents who have lost their children to suicide over social media harms, along with advocates, have fought to get these legislations passed. These people told stories and said social media companies and gaming sites allow harmful content on their platforms. This in turn subjects their children and minors to harms such as drug addiction, bullying and sexual exploitation.
If the bills become law, social media companies would be required to mitigate said harms to children and require more safety settings for minors.
Since the bills aren’t laws yet, minors are not banned from using social media in the U.S. The legislation will now head to the House, which is on recess until September.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he will work to find a consensus. President Joe Biden indicated he will sign the bills into law if they are passed by Congress.
Some Big Tech platforms like X, Microsoft and Snap all said they support the bills. However, Facebook and Instagram have not publicly taken a stance.
