Researchers and clinicians are divided on the need for legislation to regulate a minimum age for children to hold social media accounts. As a clinical psychologist who works with parents and teens, a researcher and also a mum, I championed the push for legislation in Australia. I showed how news headlines were often misleading and how evidence has been misinterpreted. I’m proud to support Mumsnet in the Rage Against the Screen campaign.
To appreciate some of the problems arising from social media use, let’s consider a story about 14-year-old Annie, an aspiring dancer. Annie pours her heart into her two weekly sessions at Ascend Dance Academy, performing at every opportunity. Dance isn’t easy, but she enjoys her classes, the patient coaching from her teachers and the friendships she’s made with kids outside her school.
Annie’s had a smartphone for two years and took to social media right away. Her parents have a solid routine for technology – schoolwork always comes first, no phone in bed at night. But Annie gets so much satisfaction from her dance friendships and the comments on her feed that every glance at her phone's bright green cover draws her in.
Last year she started making and posting her own videos. As the comments – Go girl!, Cheeky!, Nice shake! – and heart emojis rolled in, her sense of self-worth grew. Now the more videos she posts, the more her following grows. It feels so good to be noticed! A former teacher and a choreographer she hasn’t even met post admiring comments. Annie feels quietly proud – no real-world interactions can compete with this. As her network grows, Annie’s life feels supercharged. She’s becoming hooked on validation and virtual hearts. Online compliments are far more exciting than her actual classes or talking to her neighbour about their plans for school holidays.
Annie is awash with online attention. She finds it increasingly difficult to be alone with her thoughts, sit with frustration, or endure any moments of boredom. It's wonderful to have an audience 24/7 but at 14 years of age, Annie risks becoming fixated on camera angles and reliant on external approval. She feels insecure when she sees her favourite admirers in conversation with others. Her concerns push her to spend more time online, zeroing in on images to compare her thigh size to others or posting more daring videos. Annie doesn’t think to question why adults from other dance groups are trying to make ongoing contact with her. She fears losing her popularity and is unaware that she is becoming more and more dependent on this engagement to feel a sense of purpose.
I frequently come across real-life situations like Annie’s in my work. Would her life be less satisfying if she were not on social media? Would she feel stifled if she were not able to post personal videos or seek approval from strangers? How would she feel if she were free from a relentless cycle of comparison and validation? Would she be better at living in the moment, calming herself down when agitated, and genuinely caring for others?
These questions have recently been at the centre of the debate about the benefits and dangers of social media for children in Australia.
Last year I championed our proposed legislation by using theory, evidence and experience to expose biases in interpretation of data, politics and public opinion to show the many ways that social media disrupts youth development, damages communities and fuels anxiety in young people. I addressed a Senate committee where I challenged the view that social media has mental health benefits. Ultimately, Australian legislation was passed requiring social media companies to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from having accounts on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and X.
Curiosity about the debate in the UK led me to meet with your own advocates – Dr Becky Foljambe, Arabella Skinner, Dr Nicky Kalk and others – visiting York, King's College, and the House of Lords in January. In February, I spoke with the UK Open Innovation Team, a cross-government unit working with academics and other experts to review the impact of smartphone and tablet use on children. I am frustrated by the view that the UK may choose to "observe Australia" rather than join us in legislating to protect young people’s mental health.
My fervent hope is that the Australian legislation will be a wake-up call and catalyst for global change in this area.