Impact of social media ban will be measured in years, not days
Idea
In the days leading up to December 10, most apps and platforms affected by the government’s new social media age restrictions have already detailed how they will comply with them. And in the days that follow, the eSafety commissioner’s office will be kicking the tires to see whether these measures are working and whether they are enough.
Meanwhile, thousands of young people will try to get used to the new normal. This is what most of the analysis and news about the social media ban is about.
Psychologists and social welfare experts have warned of the effects on mental health and the need for extra support; This is a real concern for under-16s who spend a lot of time online, especially if they use social media to connect with communities they might not otherwise have access to.
Many have pointed to the possibility of technological workarounds, such as virtual private networks (VPNs), that allow underage users to pretend to be logging in from another part of the world and potentially bypass the ban. It’s not impossible for social media companies to detect this, but it’s also not simple.
Possible age verification methods have also been criticized for being too easy to fool. If a 14-year-old says he is older and his parents use his face for selfie control, he will likely avoid a ban. One expert even stated that, ironically, the ban exists because the government does not trust parents to protect children, but every child can avoid the ban if their parents allow it.
But whether it’s teething issues, struggles with incompatible platforms, whack-a-mole solutions, or ease of bypass, the reality of impact on day one or week one doesn’t fully reflect the potential long-term impact.
A majority of Australians support the idea of restricting social media for under-16s; I think this reflects how widely recognized the dangers of social media are. An age limit on such services could actually change things for the better, regardless of government intent, clumsy implementation, or how easy it is to get around.
Children should definitely be able to communicate, share, learn and even socialize over the internet. But many of these apps are where big tech companies use algorithms and dark patterns to keep users engaged and extract as much value as possible. Where anyone motivated to spread misinformation, products, or political ideologies to an impressionable audience can pay to do so. It can also be all too easy for personally identifiable information to be disclosed or for harmful and self-sabotaging attitudes to develop.
Children under 16 who are currently on social media will be understandably upset about being kicked out. In many cases, they can use a VPN, try lying, or ask their parents for help to get around this problem. They might collaborate with friends to switch to smaller similar apps and hope they don’t follow suit. But none of this undermines the ban’s potential long-term effectiveness.
The immediate effect may be that only a fraction of 13, 14 and 15-year-olds stop using apps, but this proportion will increase over time because apps will become much less attractive as the number of children’s friends decreases.
Every year, new 13-year-olds will grow up with much less exposure to the idea of using social media. Will any of the 10-year-olds today want to be on TikTok or Instagram enough to sneak in before their 16th birthday? In three years, if they and their friends don’t take care, the ban will have succeeded.
Ideally, as we adapt to the new environment and similar restrictions are implemented around the world, alternatives will emerge that focus less on constant engagement, algorithmically delivered content, maximizing likes, and monetization.
It would be great if kids had ubiquitous and safe online spaces where they could share their thoughts and creations for themselves, their friends, and their communities. Then, when they turn 16, they can decide if and how they want to connect with the world.
Unless you’re making billions selling people’s information for advertising, this is of course a difficult system to set up.
The best options right now are messaging and gaming platforms, and some of these seem ideal for growing into such areas. Others in this group need different types of regulation and review before I can consider them safe.
After all, it might be a good thing if the kinds of platforms outlined in the new laws become less desirable to children (and adults, too) over time, even if it’s not a magic cure for online harms. It can help us find ways to connect, create, and consume online without being treated as cattle or pawns.
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Tim Biggs is a writer covering consumer technology, gadgets, and video games.Connect with: excitement or email.
