Staying off social media can be challenging. These teens also find it liberating
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Staying off social media can be challenging. These teens also find it liberating

Associated Press  

WESTPORT, Conn. — Kate Bulkeley’s pledge to stay off social media in high school worked at first. “Social media is now the air kids breathe,” says Rich, who runs the hospital’s Clinic for Interactive Media and Internet Disorders. WHEN IT’S EVERYWHERE, IT’S HARD TO AVOID At school, on the subway and at dance classes around New York City, Gabriela is surrounded by reminders that social media is everywhere — except on her phone. “It was the school that really drove the fact that we had to reconsider our rule about no social media,” says Steph Bulkeley, Kate’s mother.

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History of this topic

Dutch MP will propose banning children under 15 from using social media
1 week ago

Dutch MP will propose banning children under 15 from using social media

NL Times  

Dutch political party D66 is advocating for a minimum age of 15 for social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. “Tech giants are harming children’s health because social media is deliberately designed to be addictive,” said D66 parliamentarian Hanneke van der Werf, according to RTL." “The Netherlands doesn’t let cigarette manufacturers determine and enforce age restrictions,” Van der …

California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites
2 weeks ago

California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sites

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California, home to some of the largest technology companies in the world, would be the first U.S. state to require mental health warning labels on social media sites if lawmakers pass a bill introduced Monday. “The promise of social media, although real, has turned into a situation where they’re turning our children’s attention into a commodity,” Assemblymember …

People Share The Toxic Trends They Already Notice With Gen Alpha
2 weeks ago

People Share The Toxic Trends They Already Notice With Gen Alpha

Huff Post  

Every generation has critiques and qualms about the one that came after it. So many young people couldn’t even sit through a book if they tried.” Ryuichi Sato / Getty Images 4. It’s sentence after sentence after sentence nonstop.” Fotostorm / Getty Images 11. It genuinely scares me that in the next election, some of these ‘COVID babies’ who had …

Cut risks, not potential, of social media for young with Instagram Teen Accounts
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Cut risks, not potential, of social media for young with Instagram Teen Accounts

India Today  

Being a great communication and learning tool for teenagers, managing the use of social media by them is becoming increasingly important. The idea behind Instagram Teen Accounts is to place teens in built-in protections and reassure parents that their children are having safe experiences. “Parents and educators play a vital role in managing teenagers’ social media experiences. Using these features, …

Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challenges
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challenges

Associated Press  

As school districts struggle to control the spread of cyberbullying, sexual abuse images and online exploitation among their students, Texas lawmakers could consider banning social media from minors, among other sweeping measures, in the upcoming legislative session. While they welcome any efforts to reduce harm to children, school officials and cybercrime investigators say more needs to be done to hold …

Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there?
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there?

Associated Press  

It is an ambitious social experiment of our moment in history — one that experts say could accomplish something that parents, schools and other governments have attempted with varying degrees of success: keeping kids off social media until they turn 16. “It’s clear that social media companies have to be held accountable, which is what Australia is trying to do,” …

Dangers still lurk for young social media users in chatrooms like Roblox
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Dangers still lurk for young social media users in chatrooms like Roblox

ABC  

MIKE LORIGAN, REPORTER: It’s a platform millions of kids use every day. MIKE LORIGAN: In September, a predator contacted this UK mother’s nine-year-old daughter on Roblox. This is the most important thing you’re going to hear all day to keep you safe on the game, okay, if you treat Roblox like it’s a giant shopping centre, if someone asks you …

Australia's PM says he is 'ready to engage' with Musk on social media ban for teens amid backlash
Top News
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Australia's PM says he is 'ready to engage' with Musk on social media ban for teens amid backlash

Firstpost  

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the parliament’s Thursday passage of landmark legislation requiring social media firms to take “reasonable steps” to prevent young teens from having accounts Australia’s prime minister said Sunday he was ready to “engage” with billionaire X owner Elon Musk over his criticism of the government’s ban on under-16s joining social media. Anthony Albanese hailed the …

JUST SPAMMING | Can social media be kept out of the child's reach?
3 weeks, 2 days ago

JUST SPAMMING | Can social media be kept out of the child's reach?

Deccan Chronicle  

The latest news from down under is rather baffling. The Online Safety Amendment Act 2024 passed by the Australian Senate last week seeks to ban children below the age of 16 from using social media apps like TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, Snapchat, Instagram and X. Because in the Indian context, 70 per cent of the children access social media from their …

Australian father of teen sextortion victim backs banning young children from social media
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Australian father of teen sextortion victim backs banning young children from social media

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — Wayne Holdsworth became an advocate for banning Australian children younger than 16 from social media because his son took his own life after falling victim to an online sextortion scam. “There is no evidence that banning young people from social media will work and to make it law in the form proposed is highly problematic,” X said. …

Young Australians weigh in on under-16 social media ban as senators meet over plan
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Young Australians weigh in on under-16 social media ban as senators meet over plan

ABC  

Senators and experts will gather in Canberra today to discuss the federal government's social media ban for under-16s. Young people say the social media ban will make it harder for them to communicate with each other. But Sadie said she was not too worried about a proposed social media ban for kids her age. It is unclear how platforms will …

Is a “digital duty of care” enough to protect young people from social media’s harms?
1 month ago

Is a “digital duty of care” enough to protect young people from social media’s harms?

ABC  

Since the start of November, the Australian government has made two significant announcements aimed at addressing the harms that social media platforms are causing to the mental health of adolescents: that it will legislate a minimum age of 16 for access to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X; that it will legislate a minimum age of 16 …

Australia’s plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic
1 month, 1 week ago

Australia’s plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — How do you protect children from the harms of social media? The Australian government’s plan to ban children from social media platforms including X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram until their 16th birthdays is politically popular. More than 140 such experts signed an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemning the 16-year age limit as “too blunt …

Australia's plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic
1 month, 1 week ago

Australia's plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Australian government’s plan to ban children from social …

Why banning social media isn’t the answer
1 month, 1 week ago

Why banning social media isn’t the answer

ABC  

Sam Hawley: The government wants to ban under-16s from social media. Today, we're going to talk about the government's decision to ban under-16s from social media. News story: The minimum age would also not be grandfathered, meaning young people on social media now will be banned when the law takes effect, even if their parents are OK with it. Sam …

Mother of schoolgirl caught up in an AI fake porn incident says she is against social media ban
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Mother of schoolgirl caught up in an AI fake porn incident says she is against social media ban

ABC  

The mother of a teenage girl whose fake nude images were circulated online says banning children aged under sixteen from social media won't fix the core problem. "Even as a parent of a child that went through that, social media isn't the problem — educating men and boys is the problem," Emily said. Bacchus Marsh Grammar principal Andrew Neal says …

Social media firms state their case
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Social media firms state their case

Politico  

Social media firms state their case TECH MAZE Florida AG Ashley Moody is defending a state law restricting kids' social media access in court. | AP Photo Tech giants sued Florida on Monday, attempting to overturn a state law requiring social media applications to restrict children’s access. The groups contend that the law, a top priority for outgoing Republican state …

Federal government's looming social media ban may be bad for isolated, marginalised teenagers
2 months ago

Federal government's looming social media ban may be bad for isolated, marginalised teenagers

ABC  

Australia will be the first in the world to ban social media for kids if the federal government goes ahead with its proposal to tighten restrictions by the end of the year. Support for young people and families The Butterfly Foundation: National helpline 1800 ED HOPE, 8am-midnight, 7 days a week ReachOut Australia: Confidential online peer support for young people …

Surgeon General Warns of a Digital Tsunami, Urging Parents to Curb Social Media Addiction in Children
2 months ago

Surgeon General Warns of a Digital Tsunami, Urging Parents to Curb Social Media Addiction in Children

New Indian Express  

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warns about the dangers of social media addiction among young people. He cites physical health risks like heart disease, stroke, and dementia, and urges governments to regulate social media. Murthy also highlights the lack of control over social media platforms and compares tech companies to car giants neglecting safety features. He emphasizes the importance of …

TikTok sued by 14 attorneys general over alleged harm to children’s mental health
2 months, 2 weeks ago

TikTok sued by 14 attorneys general over alleged harm to children’s mental health

CNN  

New York CNN — A bipartisan group of 14 attorneys general from across the country filed lawsuits on Tuesday against TikTok, alleging that the platform has “addicted” young people and harmed their mental health. “TikTok’s underlying business model focuses on maximizing young users’ time on the platform so the company can boost revenue from selling targeted ads,” the attorneys general …

Teens already on social media could be exempt from a ban under an option canvassed by Anthony Albanese
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Teens already on social media could be exempt from a ban under an option canvassed by Anthony Albanese

ABC  

Teenagers who are already on social media could be allowed to keep their accounts under the ban promised by the federal government. Mr Albanese wrote to premiers and chief ministers asking for assistance on setting up a minimum age to use social media, including any evidence they may have on what age the ban should lift. The SA's examination of …

As a federal social media ban looms, marginalised groups fear youth could be cut off from their communities
2 months, 3 weeks ago

As a federal social media ban looms, marginalised groups fear youth could be cut off from their communities

ABC  

Amy Sargeant credits the internet as a "lifeline" that supported her through her early years of transitioning. But Ms Sargeant is concerned banning young people from social media could prevent marginalised people from finding "life-saving" resources they may not be able to access offline. Social media ban 'doesn't address the root of the problem' Curtin University internet cultures expert Sky …

Teen social media use: Why banning isn’t the answer
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Teen social media use: Why banning isn’t the answer

Hindustan Times  

The debate around whether we should ban access to social media for teenagers aged 13 to 16 has gained significant attention. Social media is a significant part of modern communication, and teens need to develop digital literacy skills, including how to recognise misinformation, avoid dangerous interactions, and use the platforms in a healthy way. Rather than an outright ban, a …

Children and young teenagers could be banned from using social media, minister says
3 months, 1 week ago

Children and young teenagers could be banned from using social media, minister says

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Children in the …

YouTube, TikTok and Meta are all in the firing line for children to be banned from their platforms. Here's what we know
3 months, 2 weeks ago

YouTube, TikTok and Meta are all in the firing line for children to be banned from their platforms. Here's what we know

ABC  

Children are growing up with access to endless streams of content — posts from friends and family, mindless but harmless entertainment, as well as posts from extremist influencers, pornography, violent videos, and other material with the potential to cause great harm. Anthony Albanese vows to introduce legislation to ban children from accessing social media by the end of this year …

If you’re a parent, Lauren Greenfield’s new doc about teens and social media ‘is a horror movie’
3 months, 3 weeks ago

If you’re a parent, Lauren Greenfield’s new doc about teens and social media ‘is a horror movie’

LA Times  

Documentary filmmaker Lauren Greenfield had spent her day with a group of high school students when a startling revelation came up that compelled her to go home and ask her two sons, then about 14 and 20, a question: “Is BDSM really a trend?” “Oh, yeah, choking is what we’re told girls want,” she recalled one of her sons saying …

Troubling ties between teens, social media and mental health : Short Wave : NPR
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Troubling ties between teens, social media and mental health : Short Wave : NPR

NPR  

Why we need to talk about teens, social media and mental health Enlarge this image toggle caption Daniel de la Hoz/Getty Images Daniel de la Hoz/Getty Images Rates of depression and anxiety have risen among teens over the last decade. Amid this ongoing mental health crisis, the American Psychological Association issued guidelines for parents to increase protection for teens online …

Social media has impact on sleep patterns, finds study
5 months ago

Social media has impact on sleep patterns, finds study

Hindustan Times  

Concerns regarding the influence of social media platforms on youth mental health led the US Surgeon General to suggest a warning label for them. The Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health highlighted potential links between social media use and poor sleep quality in youth. "Ensuring adolescents get enough sleep is vital, as it supports their physical …

The Surgeon General Says Social Media Is Like Tobacco. He’s Completely Wrong.
5 months, 1 week ago

The Surgeon General Says Social Media Is Like Tobacco. He’s Completely Wrong.

Slate  

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy made headlines last year after he issued an advisory about social media and youth mental health. In a New York Times op-ed published in June 2024, he declared that “it is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents.” …

The Surgeon General Proposed Warning Labels On Social Media. Will They Do Anything?
6 months ago

The Surgeon General Proposed Warning Labels On Social Media. Will They Do Anything?

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING A source recently let me know that the responses to an article I had written were a bit mean-spirited. In a New York Times essay published June 17, Murthy wrote, “The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency — and social media has emerged as an important contributor.” In the Youth Risk Behavior Survey published …

Teenager charged over social media post ranking female students at Gold Coast high school
6 months ago

Teenager charged over social media post ranking female students at Gold Coast high school

ABC  

In short: A social media post circulated last month ranking school students into disturbing categories. A social media post circulated last month ranking school students into disturbing categories. A teenage boy charged over a social media post that ranked female students into disturbing categories has agreed to participate in a diversion program, police say. Bond University communication and media professor …

Social media warning label sought by U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy, asks congress to act
6 months ago

Social media warning label sought by U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy, asks congress to act

The Hindu  

The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms, similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. In a Monday opinion piece in the The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. “It is time to require a …

US surgeon general seeks tobacco-like warning labels for social media platforms
6 months ago

US surgeon general seeks tobacco-like warning labels for social media platforms

ABC  

In short: The US surgeon general wants social media platforms to have health warnings placed on them, similar to the mandatory labels on cigarette boxes. Vivek Murthy said use of just a warning label wouldn't make social media safe, but would help the mental health crisis among young people. The US surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning …

US surgeon general calls for warning labels on social-media platforms
6 months ago

US surgeon general calls for warning labels on social-media platforms

Live Mint  

Surgeon General has called for warning labels on social-media platforms, saying urgent action was needed to address a mental-health emergency involving young people. Warning labels, similar to those on alcohol and tobacco products, should accompany platforms to “regularly remind parents that social media has not been proved safe," Dr. Vivek Murthy said in an op-ed for the New York Times …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months, 1 week ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

Associated Press  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

Surgeon general calls for social media warning labels and calls on Congress to act
6 months, 1 week ago

Surgeon general calls for social media warning labels and calls on Congress to act

Associated Press  

The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms and their effects on young people’s lives, similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. “It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. A surgeon …

Surgeon general calls on Congress to require social media warning labels, like those on cigarettes
6 months, 1 week ago

Surgeon general calls on Congress to require social media warning labels, like those on cigarettes

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

LAUSD, fed up with kids distracted by social media, to consider cellphone ban
6 months, 1 week ago

LAUSD, fed up with kids distracted by social media, to consider cellphone ban

LA Times  

The Los Angeles Unified School District board is considering a resolution that would ban student cellphone use. It directs staff to “develop and present to the public” policies that would prohibit student use of cellphones and social media “during the entire school day,” including lunch and breaks. “Simply put, they make kids more depressed and just plain dumber.” District high …

US surgeon general calls for warning labels on social media platforms
6 months, 1 week ago

US surgeon general calls for warning labels on social media platforms

Al Jazeera  

The United States surgeon general has called on Congress to require social media platforms to carry warning labels on their effects on young people’s lives, similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. “It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. …

The government puts warnings on tobacco and alcohol. Is social media next? : Consider This from NPR : NPR
6 months, 1 week ago

The government puts warnings on tobacco and alcohol. Is social media next? : Consider This from NPR : NPR

NPR  

'An unfair fight': The U.S. surgeon general declares war on social media Enlarge this image toggle caption doble-d/Getty doble-d/Getty Emma Lembke was 12 years old when many of her friends started using phones and social media. "Too much time on social media gets in the way of things that we know are good for kids, like getting a lot of …

Surgeon general asks Congress to require social media warning
6 months, 1 week ago

Surgeon general asks Congress to require social media warning

LA Times  

The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those mandatory on cigarette boxes. Social media use has become so prevalent and potentially damaging among young people that the U.S. surgeon general is calling on Congress to require warning labels on the online platforms, similar to those found on cigarette boxes. …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

The Hindu  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

How parents and schools can help teens navigate social media safely? Insights and strategies from experts
6 months, 2 weeks ago

How parents and schools can help teens navigate social media safely? Insights and strategies from experts

Hindustan Times  

Ahmed Othman isn't on TikTok and doesn't want to be. Othman's parents took a middle ground approach that a growing number of experts say is the most realistic and effective way of teaching children about social media: Rather than an outright ban or allowing free reign, they recommend a slow, deliberate onboarding that gives children the tools and information they …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

Associated Press  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

A realistic way to protect kids from social media? Find a middle ground
6 months, 2 weeks ago

A realistic way to protect kids from social media? Find a middle ground

Associated Press  

Ahmed Othman isn’t on TikTok and doesn’t want to be. “They really tried to emphasize social media is a tool, but can also be like your worst enemy if you so make it,” Othman said. Othman’s parents took a middle ground approach that a growing number of experts say is the most realistic and effective way of teaching children about …

In their own words: What young people wish they’d known about social media
6 months, 2 weeks ago

In their own words: What young people wish they’d known about social media

Associated Press  

Get off your phone. But the things that people post on social media, it’s just the highlight reel, like the 1% of their life that they want to showcase to other people.” BAO LE, 18, a freshman at Vanderbilt University Doreen Malata, 22, a senior at University of Maryland, poses for a photo on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in College …

In their own words: What young people wish they'd known about social media
6 months, 2 weeks ago

In their own words: What young people wish they'd known about social media

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But the things that people post on social media, …

How parents approach social media for different children in the same family
7 months, 1 week ago

How parents approach social media for different children in the same family

ABC  

Deciding when and how children should access social media is a challenge for parents and there's rarely a one-size-fits-all solution — even when it comes to kids in the same family. Following the South Australian government's proposal to ban social media access for children under 14, two parents share how they're managing when their kids have very different interests and …

How should you approach your children's and teenagers' social media use?
7 months, 1 week ago

How should you approach your children's and teenagers' social media use?

ABC  

Children's social media usage is again in the spotlight, with the SA government announcing a proposal to ban children under 14 from accessing sites such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook and requiring those aged 14 and 15 to have parental consent to use the apps. Meanjin/Brisbane-based parenting and positive psychology expert Justin Coulson says "ultimately, the social media genie is …

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