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Australian legislators are reported to be looking closely at draft legislation that would ban young people under the age of 16 from using social media even if they have parental consent. This raises the question of just how dangerous access to social media can be and whether Hong Kong should be looking at similar legislation. A draft bill covering similar ground, the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act, is under consideration in the United States.
The Australian government’s proposal would require all social media sites to verify users’ age, with tech companies that allow those under 16 to use their platforms being subject to penalties. Underage users and their parents would not be in breach.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cited risks to young people’s physical and mental health to justify the proposed law. He said harmful depictions of body image posed danger to girls and criticised misogynist content aimed at boys.
The subject was discussed last week on an RTHK talk show I host. Timothy Hoffman, a local therapist who provides psychological counselling services, strongly supported the Australian move and said Hong Kong should seriously consider doing the same. He highlighted an article in The Atlantic magazine from September which reported how the founders and CEOs of major companies in the industry restrict their own children’s use of social media.
Among those the article named were Steve Jobs of Apple (who allowed limited use), Bill Gates of Microsoft (no phones until 14), Chew Shou Zi of TikTok (which his children are not allowed to use), Mark Zuckerberg of Meta (who monitors screen time) and Evan Spiegel of Snap (90 minutes per week).
Hoffman highlighted the effects of excessive exposure to social media on the individual child. It could result in depression and anxiety, leading to increased self-harm and even thoughts of suicide. Social media can facilitate comparison and bullying and engender fear of missing out.