Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has unveiled a top priority change he would introduce “within the first three months” of government if elected.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says “important steps” have been taken as the government looks to fund a trial which would see “more appropriate” age restrictions implemented for social media users.
“This is a really substantial concern, particularly for parents, but I think for the broader Australian community as well,”
“For a lot of parents, frankly, it is terrifying thinking about kids and social media.
“I think, like a lot of parents, it is something that keeps you up at night.”
Mr Dutton made his revelation on Nova Wednesday morning when hosts Fitzy and Wippa asked him if he’d support an initiative from the radio station to increase the minimum social media age by three years.
“I would put it at the top of my list for the first 100 days in government, so within the first three months we would introduce it,” he said.
“It reflects the community values and where the view is for the vast majority of Australians at the moment.
“I honestly can’t understand an argument against putting in place sensible measures.”
Peter Dutton has vowed to up the minimum age for social media users to 16 if elected. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard
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The Liberal leader argued an increase in the joining age would empower parents who deal with pressure from kids who use social media as their main mode of communication.
“It just gives parents more power in the equation and there is a lot of pressure because there are plenty of examples as well of kids being isolated from their friendship groups, not being able to communicate,” Mr Dutton said, adding his recognition of social media’s benefit during periods like the pandemic.
“That was the case over Covid, and many of them wouldn’t have coped without the ability to share their story and their journey.
“It’s the case that we need to have just a sensible moderate approach.
“Nobody’s saying ban the internet or any of that sort of nonsense, it is about allowing parents to have that conversation.”
Mr Dutton said upping the minimum age for social media “reflects the community values” of many Australians. Picture: iStock
By upping the law to 16, Mr Dutton argues, it helps parents enforce boundaries for their children with social media.
Mr Dutton said it was “tough for parents” who hear their child say “every kid in the class has got it, so why haven’t I?” and argued introducing a law would mean joining social media at an older age is “the accepted norm”.
His comments come as News Corp pushes its ‘Let Them Be Kids’ campaign which urges the government raise the age of social media access to 16 to help tackle the scourge of suicide and self harm, and help the next generation reclaim their childhood.
Polling by Dynata that surveyed more than 3,000 social media users – including teenagers – in April found 70 per cent of teenagers had a negative experience on social media while one in three teenagers had been exposed to disturbing or traumatic content.
Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite has described the effect of social media on children as “deeply concerning”.
Mr Thistlethwaite’s comments come as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed calls for an age limit on social media in a bid to protect children’s mental health.
“The more that we can keep kids off social media and devices and have them outdoors playing and being kids … the better off they’ll all be and the healthier they’ll all be,” Mr Thistlethwaite told Sky News Australia.
Tackling the ramifications of social media on young people featured in the federal budget with Treasurer Jim Chalmers announcing $6.5 million going towards the trial of age-verifying technology on social media platforms.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the trial was “to make sure that we’ve got the age settings right and that the technology supports that”.
“But the social media companies, if they wanted to do it they could probably do it tomorrow,” she said.
“The average age kids see pornography today is 10 years old. Can you imagine what that is doing for young people and their relationships? It’s not good.”
Ms Plibersek argued the trial would use technology to ensure children below the minimum age are not on social media. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman
Ms Plibersek’s backing of the funding received the support of Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce who branded the impacts of social media on young Australians as “evil in many cases”.
“I’m pretty much united with Tanya on this,” he said.
“I think that boys seeing pornography at a really young age and girls being attacked on their weight and being targeted so it encourages eating disorders, both of those, are just wrong.”