Australian survey finds regular use of social media harming teenagers' life satisfaction
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Australian survey finds regular use of social media harming teenagers' life satisfaction

ABC  

Regular use of some social media platforms is negatively impacting the life satisfaction of Australian teenagers, according to the latest findings from the nation's largest survey of young people. Non-binary students who regularly use social media reported the lowest levels of life satisfaction, particularly for those who use Discord. "While we know that young people face many challenges that could impact their life satisfaction, we found that the use of many of the mainstream social media platforms was associated with poorer life satisfaction." According to the survey, the most popular social media platform used by young people was Instagram, followed by Snapchat, but there was no significant variation in life satisfaction by users of those apps.

Social Media Media Social Life University Young Survey Young People Tiktok Instagram Edwards Australian Discord Life Satisfaction Satisfaction  media  australian  study  survey  life  used  regular  lower  university  satisfaction  teenagers  social  finds  harming  young

History of this topic

How will Australia's under-16 social media ban work? We asked the law's enforcer
5 days ago

How will Australia's under-16 social media ban work? We asked the law's enforcer

NPR  

How will Australia's under-16 social media ban work? We asked the law's enforcer toggle caption Provided by the Australian eSafety Commission Australia passed one of the strictest internet crackdowns in the world last month, banning children under 16 from being on social media or opening new accounts. Sponsor Message Research that's examined the link between social media use and teens' …

Insider Q&A: High hopes for Australia social media ban and channeling parental ‘fury’ over tech
1 week ago

Insider Q&A: High hopes for Australia social media ban and channeling parental ‘fury’ over tech

Associated Press  

Julie Scelfo started MAMA — Mothers Against Media Addiction — earlier this year to help parents fight back against the harms of social media on children. A former journalist, Scelfo says she was inspired to take action after reporting on the youth mental health crisis and how screens and social media are affecting young people’s lives. Scelfo says the group …

Can parents get behind the Aussie ban on social media for kids?
1 week, 3 days ago

Can parents get behind the Aussie ban on social media for kids?

Live Mint  

“I wish I could move to Australia!" That was a sentiment expressed by a mother of two teen boys soon after she heard about Australia’s recent decision to bar children under 16 from using social media. Of course, parents need to set strict boundaries with children and not have to rely on a ban, but let’s face it, social media …

Nearly half of American teens are on the internet ‘almost constantly.’ Here’s what they’re viewing
1 week, 4 days ago

Nearly half of American teens are on the internet ‘almost constantly.’ Here’s what they’re viewing

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Seventy-five percent of teens aged 15 to 17 are more likely to use social media than teens …

Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
Trending News
1 week, 4 days ago

Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds

Associated Press  

Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly …

Family ties to friendship: Here's why older people are among biggest users of social media
1 week, 4 days ago

Family ties to friendship: Here's why older people are among biggest users of social media

Hindustan Times  

The Australian government’s recent decision to ban under 16s from social media has focused attention on the harms it can cause – especially for young people. Social media, in particular, works by: Maintaining family ties : Social media provides older adults with a virtual seat at the family table. Building new communities: Social media groups dedicated to specific interests such …

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 …

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, …

Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there?
2 weeks, 5 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,” …

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?

New Indian Express  

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. Australia's new law, approved by its Parliament last week, is an attempt to swim against many tides of modern …

How Australia’s social media ban for children compares to other countries
3 weeks, 3 days ago

How Australia’s social media ban for children compares to other countries

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. Read our privacy policy Australia has enacted a law …

Australia, France and more: How countries are trying to regulate social media for children
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Australia, France and more: How countries are trying to regulate social media for children

Firstpost  

Australia has approved a social media ban for children aged under 16 after an emotive debate gripped the nation. From France to China, several other countries have tried to clean up social media through policies like strict privacy laws and prohibitions for minors Two school students pose with their mobile showing social media applications in Melbourne, Australia. Similar to Australia, …

Australia BANS social media for kids under 16: A global first in online safety
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Australia BANS social media for kids under 16: A global first in online safety

India TV News  

Australia has become the first country to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. The rule aims to address the rising concerns about the mental health risks which are associated with excessive social media usage, which further includes addiction, cyberbullying and exposure to harmful content. Image Source : FILESocial …

Australia lawmakers pass landmark social-media ban for under-16s
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Australia lawmakers pass landmark social-media ban for under-16s

Live Mint  

Australia is set to become the first country to ban social media use by under-16s after the country’s Senate overwhelmingly voted in favor of strict new legislation. “Social media is doing harm to our children and I’m calling time on it," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said when the bill was introduced to Parliament earlier this month. The legislation marks …

Australia bans social media for children under 16, first country to do so
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Australia bans social media for children under 16, first country to do so

India Today  

Australia on Thursday passed into law a social media ban for children aged under 16 after an emotive debate that gripped the nation, setting a benchmark for jurisdictions around the world with one of the toughest regulations targeting Big Tech. Against the backdrop of a parliamentary inquiry through 2024 which heard evidence from parents of children who had self-harmed due …

Australia social media ban: Is restricting all under-16s from social apps really the answer?
1 month ago

Australia social media ban: Is restricting all under-16s from social apps really the answer?

CNN  

Brisbane, Australia CNN — Kirra Pendergast talks to thousands of teenagers each year in her role as a cyber safety educator. The Australian government hopes to pass what it calls “world-leading” legislation this week to wipe social media accounts – including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and X – from the devices of children under 16. Children who’ve killed themselves …

How will Australia’s social media ban for kids under 16 work?
1 month ago

How will Australia’s social media ban for kids under 16 work?

Firstpost  

The Australian government on Thursday tabled legislation in Parliament to ban children under 16 from social media. Australia’s communications minister Michelle Rowland said the ban would cover social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram. Australia’s social media ban on teenagers Australia’s proposed law provides a “framework” for the ban. Australia’s communications minister Rowland said that social …

Australia’s parliament considers legislation banning social media for under 16s
1 month ago

Australia’s parliament considers legislation banning social media for under 16s

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s communications minister introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children under 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges. One quarter have been exposed to content promoting unsafe eating habits.” Government research found that 95% of Australian care-givers find online safety to be one of their “toughest …

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 …

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move
1 month ago

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move

China Daily  

FILE PHOTO: A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. The Australian government is pushing ahead with legislation that will ban all children under the age of 16 from social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and X — even with parental consent. "This may mean that they access social media without …

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move
Trending News
1 month ago

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move

China Daily  

The impact of social media on the well-being and mental health of children has been thoroughly documented for more than a decade. The Australian government is pushing ahead with legislation that will ban all children under the age of 16 from social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and X — even with parental consent. "This may mean that …

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move
1 month ago

Opinions divided over Australia's social media ban move

China Daily  

FILE PHOTO: A TikTok logo is displayed on a smartphone in this illustration taken January 6, 2020. The Australian government is pushing ahead with legislation that will ban all children under the age of 16 from social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and X — even with parental consent. "This may mean that they access social media without …

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 …

Australia will require social media platforms to act to prevent online harm to users
1 month, 1 week ago

Australia will require social media platforms to act to prevent online harm to users

NPR  

Australia will require social media platforms to act to prevent online harm to users toggle caption Rick Rycroft/AP MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia plans to require social media platforms to act to prevent online harms to users such as bullying, predatory behavior and algorithms pushing destructive content, the government said Thursday. "The Digital Duty of Care will place the onus on …

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 …

Australia bans social media use for children below 16; know harmful effects of social media, tips to prevent overuse
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Australia bans social media use for children below 16; know harmful effects of social media, tips to prevent overuse

Hindustan Times  

The Australian Government, on Thursday, announced that the age limit for children to start using social media is 16. According to a report by Associated Press, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pointed out the harmful impact of social media on children. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pointed out the harmful impact of social media on children. Harmful effects of social media on …

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 …

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 …

"Completely shocked": What Lauren Greenfield learned following LA teens and their phones for a year
2 months, 3 weeks ago

"Completely shocked": What Lauren Greenfield learned following LA teens and their phones for a year

Salon  

Lauren Greenfield and I both know quite a bit about what it means to be steeped in the world of teens and internet culture, albeit for different reasons. So in that kind of spread, I think the way young people use social media completely changed." That's kind of where they end up, at the end saying, “We just need to …

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 …

Psychologist reveals intriguing reason why we obsessively stalk our own social media profiles
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Psychologist reveals intriguing reason why we obsessively stalk our own social media profiles

Daily Mail  

If you've ever been tempted to scroll though your own social media profiles, imagining what others might think of your life, you're not alone. And when this feedback isn't immediately available, Ms Skinner explained to Mashable, we try to imagine what it may be by examining what others would see when looking at our social media profiles. Stalking one's own …

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 …

Social Media Apps Should Come With Warning Like Cigarette Packets, Says Health Experts
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Social Media Apps Should Come With Warning Like Cigarette Packets, Says Health Experts

News 18  

Most of our day starts with social media these days, whether it’s Instagram, Facebook, or WhatsApp. Dr Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, said in an interview that preventing kids from using social media would preserve their youth. Children who use social media for more than three hours a day are more likely to experience depression, according to 2019 American …

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 …

New study links early childhood tablet use to anger outbursts
4 months, 1 week ago

New study links early childhood tablet use to anger outbursts

CNN  

CNN — Virtually every parent of young children has experienced outbursts of anger and frustration from their toddlers, whether it’s time to get up, go to bed or eat a sandwich without the crusts cut off. The new study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, shows that child tablet use at 3.5 years old was associated with a higher number …

Canada man sues social media giants YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, for being too addictive, causing negative body image
4 months, 1 week ago

Canada man sues social media giants YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, for being too addictive, causing negative body image

Hindustan Times  

A 24 year old man from Montreal, Canada, is launching a class-action lawsuit against social media companies like TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook for being “too addictive.” Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram apps are seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. The man started using social media in 2015, due to which, he claimed …

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 …

When should teenagers get a phone and how can families delay their child joining social media?
4 months, 3 weeks ago

When should teenagers get a phone and how can families delay their child joining social media?

ABC  

Aalia Elachi was eight when some of her friends started getting smartphones, prompting her to ask her parents for one, too. Now nearly 15, Aalia still doesn't have a phone or use social media, something she and her parents say they're grateful for. Professor Haidt, whose latest book is The Anxious Generation, argues that children old enough to have progressed …

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 …

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

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 …

Social media: Abstinence can boost self-esteem
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Social media: Abstinence can boost self-esteem

Hindustan Times  

A Canadian study has found that refraining from social media for a week can have a positive impact on one's body image. Young women are particularly vulnerable to internalizing certain ideas of beauty For many young people on social media platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, it's hard to escape the beauty ideals and standards that are circulating, and …

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