Australian government has proposed to ban children below 16 from using media. Many people, especially parents, want social media to be banned in India too. But is social media ban the way forward?
Published Nov 10, 2024 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 10, 2024 | 7:00 AM
A phone screen with social media applications. (iStock)
As Australia plans to ban social media for children under 16, the question of whether children in India would benefit from such legislation is being discussed.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the law would soon be tabled in Parliament to mitigate the harm social media was causing young children.
The Australian government plans to enforce the ban by placing the onus on social media platforms to show that they are preventing access to children below 16 years of age.
The law would be enforced a year after it passes in Parliament and would be subject to review once it is enforced. Users would not be penalised, and the eSafety Commissioner, Australia’s online regulator, would be tasked with enforcing it.
While parents of young children that South First spoke with said a ban would effectively mitigate the harms of social media, doctors and mental health professionals felt a holistic approach would be better than an outright ban.
Mental health experts said the underlying psychological, emotional, and social factors that drive excessive use must be addressed.
The concern in Australia is over the psychological, developmental, and social impacts of social media on young people.
Numerous studies have indicated an alarming increase in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and body image concerns, particularly among teenagers and pre-teens.
According to the Australian government, this move aims to protect children from harmful content, cyber-bullying, and social pressures, while also addressing addiction concerns.
Highlighting the potential harm caused by social media, including body image issues affecting young girls and exposure to misogynistic content for boys, Australian PM Albanese said, “If you’re a 14-year-old kid getting this stuff, at a time where you’re going through life’s changes and maturing, it can be a really difficult time and what we’re doing is listening and then acting.”
A fourth of India’s population is less than 15 years old, and a significant proportion of that population is actively engaged in social media.
Parents argue that in recent years, India has seen a rise in cyber-bullying, online addiction, anxiety and depression. This is known to be linked to high social media use by adolescents.
Rashmi Sagar, who works with a private firm and is mother to a young daughter, told South First: “It’s like I’m competing with an invisible friend for my daughter’s attention. Every day it’s a huge task to even have a conversation with her. We don’t have family time anymore. Yes. I think banning social media would do a lot good.”
Another parent of a 12-year-old who did not wish to be named said he caught his daughter editing her photograph for over an hour last week.
“She said she didn’t like the way her nose looked in selfies. She’s only 12, and she’s already insecure about her appearance because of what she sees online. It’s not even that I have given her a phone of her own. She uses my phone to be on Instagram. I thought it was safe as I have the control, but even with the little time she gets to be on it, I realise how big a mistake it is – it’s like I am handing over drugs to her.”
Mental health experts and adolescent counsellors said young people face unique pressures — academic expectations, familial obligations, and societal norms. Social media can amplify these and heighten the feeling of inadequacy among young users.
Banning social media, however, may not solve these problems; a holistic approach may be needed.
Parents often remark about the prowess of young children in the use of gadgets. Dr Manoj Sharma, head of the SHUT (Service for Healthy Use of Technology) Clinic at NIMHANS, chimes in with them. Enforcing a ban would have limited effectiveness, he said.
“Most children today are not only aware of how to use social media, but they also know workarounds to bypass restrictions,” he said.
He said the way to make social media use healthy is to promote what he terms “social media hygiene.” Companies, families, and communities must all be roped in to encourage responsible use, he says. That would be more effective than an outright ban.
Dr Preeti Galagali, adolescent health specialist and clinical lead, Adolescent Clinic, at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, said stringent laws alone do not make for elimination of vices.
“Despite strong regulations, people find ways to circumvent bans. Similarly, with social media, young people are adept at finding loopholes,” she explained.
However, the analogy has its limitations. While vices like smoking and drug addiction have been conclusively proven to harm the growing brain, social media’s impact on the young brain is still a matter of research.
“We don’t yet have conclusive evidence that social media is entirely damaging. In some cases, it enhances connectivity and learning. The problem arises when usage becomes unhealthy or excessive,” she said.
“We need to wait for more comprehensive research before imposing age bans. In the meantime, the focus should be on anticipatory guidance — educating children about healthy media use, digital etiquette, and prevention of cyber-bullying,” she suggested.
Instagram and Discord are the two social media platforms most popular with young people. Both offer instant gratification through visually appealing content, quick reads, and endless streams of updates. These are what young people find appealing, causing them to spend long hours each day on these platforms.
The SHUT Clinic at NIMHANS sees a wide range of technology-related issues, from gaming addiction to mindless “scrolling syndrome.”
Dr Manoj Sharma said these two platforms, like other social media where children spend late nights scrolling, chatting, and engaging with strangers, lead to disrupted sleep and decreased family interaction.
Dr Sharma noted the steady rise in cases of sleep deprivation, anxiety, and social detachment among young patients.
“Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a major factor driving excessive social media use,” he said, “Kids feel a constant need to stay updated and engaged, keeping them glued to their screens.”
The adolescent brain’s underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, which governs decision-making and impulse control, makes them especially vulnerable.
“For children experiencing mental distress or lacking coping mechanisms, excessive social media use becomes a form of escapism. But this doesn’t resolve the underlying distress — it only masks it temporarily,” Dr Galgali said.
Unlike substances like drugs, social media doesn’t chemically alter the brain, Dr Galgali pointed out.
“We hesitate to use the term ‘addiction’ for social media because it doesn’t work at a chemical level like drugs, which flood the synaptic junction with dopamine. Social media’s effects are behavioral, not biochemical. But that doesn’t make its overuse any less concerning.”
This distinction underscores the need for nuanced solutions rather than an outright ban.
“Technology is now an integral part of life, and there’s no running away from it. The rise of AI-driven tools and digital classrooms means children must learn to use technology responsibly, not avoid it entirely,” Dr Galgali explained.
She added that working holistically with setting boundaries, involving others in the family and enforcing discipline for the entire family, would all go a long way in encouraging children to engage healthily with devices. Young people must also get adequate time outdoors, and with friends.
“These changes take time, and they require more than just laws,” she said.
Dr Galgali advocated teaching children and families the “rules of the road” for social media – just like driving etiquette is taught before driving licenses are issued.
“Once you hand a child a phone, you must also teach him about its responsible use — how to handle cyber-bullying, set boundaries, and follow digital etiquette,” she said.
Dr Galgali mentioned the rapid change in technology and the need for regular updates of the guidelines. “The current 2022 pediatric guidelines don’t adequately address emerging trends like artificial intelligence. We need to keep these recommendations relevant to today’s digital challenges,” she said.
Her clinic also provides parenting guides that help families create balanced digital habits.
Excessive social media can be curbed with the right coping skills, and a proper understanding of what might be driving it, the doctor explained.
“Every case of unhealthy media use has a backstory — often linked to stress, mental distress, or a lack of problem-solving techniques. If children are taught relaxation methods and better coping strategies, they’re less likely to rely on social media for relief,” she said.
Dr Galgali called for better parental monitoring of the use of social media by children.
“Social media is here to stay, and its role in education and connectivity will only grow. We can’t run from it; instead, we must prepare children to use it wisely,” she said.
Dr Manoj Sharma said, “Children use social media not just for entertainment but also for connection, identity-building, and even academic purposes. Taking it away without addressing these needs could leave them feeling isolated and out of touch with their peers.”
Dr Sharma suggested occasional “social media fasting” or “digital fasting” days so households abstain from social media to reconnect offline.
This approach can create stronger family bonds, encouraging children to communicate and engage in activities outside the digital realm. “This can encourage members to explore offline activities together, providing the support system children need to break their reliance on screens,” he explains.
Dr. Sharma suggested that instead of merely enforcing bans, companies should advocate for social media hygiene, encouraging children to set time limits, avoid late-night usage, and prioritise family time.
“Tech companies can incorporate reminders and nudges, promoting balance and mindfulness,” he said.
For instance, platforms could offer settings that remind users to take breaks, especially at night, to prioritise rest.
(Edited by Rosamma Thomas).
