( MENAFN - The Conversation) A campaign to block children's access to social media to limit online harms and unhealthy internet use is picking up momentum in Australian Politics . The current age limit for platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok is 13, but some state governments are calling to raise this age to 16 . Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed these efforts , and the federal opposition has committed to introducing laws that will bar under 16-year-olds from social media.
These calls are among the latest attempts to control how young people engage with culture. From banning children's books, to limiting television screen time , and rating music, movies and videogames, society often turns to government regulation to address moral panics. Yet, critics explain the desire to control children's access is“not really backed by robust science”.
They raise privacy concerns about uploading personal documents (like passports) and providing details unrelated to age (like credit card numbers) to technology companies . Critics also highlight the social and informational benefits of online engagement, which may be lost if young people are banned. These criticisms are valid, as age assurance technologies have a long way to go to address these concerns.
Many online sites currently rely on age gating , where users self-report their age. This can easily fail. Children under 13 can provide fake birthdates to create social media accounts.
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