This open-letter, signed by over 140 Australian academics, international experts, and civil society organisations, addresses the proposal to ‘ban’ children from social media until the age of 16. They argue that a ‘ban’ is too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively and that any restrictions must be designed with care.

Key points

• Addressing the risks of social media requires a careful and evidence-based response that acknowledges the role that the digital world plays in contemporary childhood.
• Bans affect rights to access and participation.
• Parental consent does not fix unsafe products. 
• Parents and carers often are not ‘the experts’, but will still be asked to make informed decisions. 
• Implementing a ban effectively remains a challenge. There are not yet effective techniques for age assurance nor to verify parental consent, and privacy concerns remain.
• It creates even more risks for children who may still use platforms.