Australia is moving into age-restricted social media. Canada is considering whether to join

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Michael Wipfli, vocal supporter of Australia’s new Ban on social media for youth under 16 years of agesays he understands the frustration that some teens and tweens have felt after came into effect – but he’s not losing sleep over hate mail or criticism, including from his children’s classmates.

“If people want to express their anger that way, then so be it,” said radio broadcaster Wipfli, known to Australians as Wippa, speaking from his home in Sydney.

“There are 13- to 16-year-olds right now who are screaming because they can’t cope…it’s going to take time to change behavior.”

The ban is not right. Some children have found ways to verify age, he says, but Wipfli wants the country to stay on this path.

He said, “There is a place for social media; it doesn’t belong in the fragile minds of children under 16.”

Nearly four months after Australia’s historic ban, Wipfli and other supportive parents say it’s a meaningful step forward. But as more countries consider imposing minimum social media ages, critics continue to question whether restrictions are the right solution.

Along with the angry messages, Wipfli said she’s also heard from teachers who report better concentration in the classroom. Some parents have told them that they are filling their free time at home by bouncing a ball in the yard or playing some silly game instead of scrolling.

“I certainly didn’t expect it to be a clean, smooth ride,” Wipfli said. He described the minimum age as part of a broader “treatment plan for welfare”.

“Australian The government is talking about digital duty of care. That’s what I would like to see as a long-term approach.”

Elsewhere in Sydney, Kat Gotham said the ban has been “a non-event” in her household, with her middle son, Asher, skirting age verification by furrowing his eyebrows during a facial scan.

His eldest son, Elias, who turned 16 in January, said he had “no trouble” chatting with friends on Snapchat or sending videos through Instagram during the month he was technically under the ban.

Gotham said she was already monitoring her children’s screen time — for example, she and her husband set a daily 30-minute limit on cellphone Internet use — and the family often talked about memes or content they were exposed to. She has been open about her tendency to “doomscroll” and encourages her children to connect with friends in person.

As a result, she questions whether relying on bans is the most effective way to reduce online harm.

Gotham said, “I’m conscious about what my kids are eating, so why wouldn’t I be conscious about what they’re consuming with their mind? I’m conscious about where they are physically and I think you have to be conscious in the virtual world as well.”

While some kids need more guidance than others, he asked: “Do we need people to tell us sugar is bad? Do we need the government to tell us it’s not good for us?”

Impact analysis will take time: Experts

Timothy Koski, a media and communications researcher at the University of Sydney, says focusing on children escaping Australia’s ban misses the purpose of the policy – ​​to put pressure on tech companies to reduce online harm, not offend teenagers – and is not in itself evidence of whether the policy is working.

Koski said determining the impact will take time and careful analysis of a wide range of data, from standardized test scores to reports of cyberbullying.

“The policy was created to address certain risks and if we see those risks reduce over the long term, then we can start to say that it may have a good impact,” he said.

Koski said long-term success will also require that many countries, including Canada, maintain pressure on social media companies to follow through on their commitments.

“It’s not just Australia that needs this, OK? Australia needs the support of its friends internationally,” he said.

He said Canada would need “a policy that is different from our policy, that fits the Canadian context,” balancing international coordination with measures that are “specific enough to be effective in that environment.”

It’s still early, and strong evidence is limited, said Johannes Thrul, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. Recent briefing on youth smartphone and digital media use.

“(We have not yet seen strong causal data) showing that age-limit laws themselves improve mental health at the population level,” he said.

Still, Thrule said he is keeping a close eye on countries that impose restrictions. He said age restrictions could be a reasonable starting point if used as part of a broader strategy.

“Social media are not equally toxic for all users, but current platforms are optimized for interaction: To keep people clicking and scrolling, not for their own good And mental health,” Thrule said.

“We also need smart policy guardrails and better platform design to minimize harm.”

Nations exploring minimum age

Since December, many countries have moved closer to Australia’s approach, including legislation that includes minimum social media ages. In France it is currently awaiting Senate review.And ban in Indonesia Scheduled to start from 28th March. UK has also opened public consultation But Additional measures to support digital well-being for youthWhich also includes possible restrictions.

governments in more than three dozen countries Discussing, considering, or implementing social media age minimums and other online security measures.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said setting an “age of adulthood” for social media use “deserves an open and well-considered debate.” Said during a visit to Tokyo in early March.

“Canada’s online harm legislation is lagging behind, so it needs to at least catch up,” he said. Carney said that although he has heard arguments from both sides, he has not yet decided whether Canada should adopt age-restricted social media rules.

“We all want our children to be safe while living in a digital world, and platforms have an important role in meeting that challenge,” Hermione Landry, press secretary to Culture Minister Mark Miller, said in a statement to CBC News.

“Our government intends to act quickly to better protect Canadians, especially children, from harm online. No decisions have been made and we will have more details to share at the appropriate time.”

In recent years, Jenny Perez, Fellow Parents of Unplugged Canada – the national nonprofit he founded – with Other advocacy groups such as Children First Canada And health specialistHas called for stricter online harm laws.

Politicians from all parties agree that action is needed, Perez said. “There’s no question about it. It’s more about how to do it.”

The Vancouver parent said she is frustrated by the time it has taken for legislation to be enacted in Canada. Still, he said there would be a minimum age for social media. supplementary proposal already Previous bills identified and brought forward Which failed to be passed in 2021 and 2025 due to election calls.

Parents are up against advanced and evolving algorithms and cannot monitor their children’s online behavior at all times, Perez said.

He said, “We need laws to help us parent – ​​not to replace our role as parents, but to set the norm.” She compares the minimum age for social media to the minimum age for driving or drinking alcohol.

“We have waited long enough… Even if we have some disagreements, we must unite and work together to get this done because it is needed.”