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

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

Associated Press  

Social media CEOs got grilled by Senate lawmakers this week in an emotional and often heated hearing about the dangers their platforms pose to children — sexual predators, videos encouraging suicide and glorifying eating disorders, bullying and addictive features, just to name a few. To comply, social media companies have generally banned kids under 13 from signing up for their services, although it’s been widely documented that kids sign up anyway, either with or without their parents’ permission. 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 the 8th grade, or about age 13 or 14. But, she added, “13 is probably not the best age for kids to get on social media.” The laws currently being proposed include blanket bans on the under-13 set when it comes to social media. Kids are also likely to respond to parents and educators “pulling back the curtains” on social media and the sometimes insidious tools companies use to keep people online and engaged, Elgersma said.

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History of this topic

How will Australia's under-16 social media ban work? We asked the law's enforcer
5 days, 19 hours 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' …

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 …

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, 4 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 …

California bill would require mental health warnings on social media sites
2 weeks ago

California bill would require mental health warnings on social media sites

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 California, home to some of …

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, 1 day 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, …

Proposed California law would require warning labels on social media
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Proposed California law would require warning labels on social media

LA Times  

Victoria Hinks watched her daughter get sucked into the dark sides of social media, and she couldn’t pull her out. Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in announcing proposed legislation that would require social media companies to warn California users their platforms could pose risks to the mental health and well-being of young people. In an op-ed published in the …

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 …

Parents urged to be vigilant about children’s online safety over Christmas
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Parents urged to be vigilant about children’s online safety over Christmas

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. Read our privacy policy Parents have been urged to remain vigilant about their children’s online safety over …

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,” …

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 …

Australia's social media ban for under-16s sparks debate
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Australia's social media ban for under-16s sparks debate

China Daily  

A schoolboy looks at his phone in Melbourne on Nov 27, 2024 as Australia looks to ban children under 16 from social media. While many agree that social media can be harmful to the development of young people, a legally enforceable ban leaves many unsure of the consequences. Instead, it should be the responsibilities of big tech companies to regulate …

Australia's social media ban for under-16s sparks debate
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Australia's social media ban for under-16s sparks debate

China Daily  

By Barry He in London | China Daily Global | Updated: 2024-12-02 11:18 A schoolboy looks at his phone in Melbourne on Nov 27, 2024 as Australia looks to ban children under 16 from social media. While many agree that social media can be harmful to the development of young people, a legally enforceable ban leaves many unsure of the …

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 …

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

Founder of teenage-run 6 News channel criticises Anthony Albanese's social media ban for children under 16
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Founder of teenage-run 6 News channel criticises Anthony Albanese's social media ban for children under 16

Daily Mail  

The founder of an Australian news channel staffed exclusively by teenage journalists has responded to new laws which will ban children under the age of 16 from social media. Leo Puglisi, 17, has run the online news service 6 News since beginning his media career at age 11. 'As Australia's only national streaming news channel run almost entirely by teenagers …

In graphics | Australia bans social media for children under 16: What it means and how it will be implemented?
3 weeks, 4 days ago

In graphics | Australia bans social media for children under 16: What it means and how it will be implemented?

Firstpost  

Australia has passed a historic law banning social media access for children under 16. Let’s take a closer look at what the new law means for the children and its implementation The Australian Parliament has passed a law banning children under 16 from using social media, making it the first country to implement such a measure. The Social Media Minimum …

Australia bans social media for kids under 16. But how will this even work?
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Australia bans social media for kids under 16. But how will this even work?

Firstpost  

Australia has passed legislation to ban under-16s from having an account on social media platforms. Reuters The federal parliament has passed legislation to ban people under 16 from having an account with some social media platforms. The Social Media Minimum Age bill The legislation amends the current Online Safety Act 2021 and defines an “age-restricted user” as a person under …

Australia, France and more: How countries are trying to regulate social media for children
3 weeks, 4 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 imposes world's-first ban on social media for children below 16 years
Top News
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Australia imposes world's-first ban on social media for children below 16 years

India Today  

In a landmark decision, Australia has passed a law that effectively bans social media usage for children under the age of 16, making it the first country to implement such sweeping regulations. The new law, which was passed in Parliament earlier this week, requires social media platforms to enforce stricter age verification measures, ensuring that children below 16 are unable …

5 Tips to keep your child safe online: E-Safety guide for parents
3 weeks, 4 days ago

5 Tips to keep your child safe online: E-Safety guide for parents

India TV News  

As children spend increasing amounts of time online, parents face a growing challenge: ensuring their kids are safe in the vast and unfiltered virtual world. Screen time is a growing concern for parents Unchecked screen time could lead to mental and physical issues, like: Sleep disturbances Reduced physical activity Strain on eyes The Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends: No screen …

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 Bans Social Media for Anyone Under 16
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Australia Bans Social Media for Anyone Under 16

Bloomberg  

00:00 PETER JOINS US NOW, YOU HEAD UP OUR TEAM IN ASIA AND ACROSS THE WORLD OF TECHNOLOGY. PETER: WE HAVE SEEN GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE REAL STRUGGLE WITH THIS QUESTION, HOW MUCH ACCESS SHOULD MINORS HAVE TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER KINDS OF TECHNOLOGIES. CHINA, BECAUSE THEY HAVE MORE CENTRALIZED CONTROL OVER THESE THINGS, LIMITED HOW MUCH TIME KIDS COULD …

Australia lawmakers pass landmark social-media ban for under-16s
3 weeks, 5 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 to ban under-16s from social media after passing landmark law
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Australia to ban under-16s from social media after passing landmark law

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 will ban children under …

Australia passes landmark law banning social media for children under 16
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Australia passes landmark law banning social media for children under 16

Firstpost  

The law, expected to take effect in November 2025, sets some of the toughest social media controls in the world and will force platforms to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place A high school student poses with his mobile phone showing his social media applications in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday. Reuters Australian lawmakers on Thursday passed …

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s

CNN  

Brisbane, Australia CNN — Australia’s parliament has passed a world-first law banning social media for children under 16, putting tech companies on notice to tighten security before a cut-off date that’s yet to be set. Under the new law, tech companies must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-age users from accessing social media services or face fines of nearly 50 …

A social media ban in Australia for children under 16 will be first in the world
Top News
3 weeks, 5 days ago

A social media ban in Australia for children under 16 will be first in the world

NPR  

A social media ban in Australia for children under 16 will be first in the world toggle caption Rick Rycroft/AP MELBOURNE, Australia — A social media ban for children under 16 passed the Australian Senate Thursday and will soon become a world-first law. Sen. David Shoebridge, from the minority Greens party, said mental health experts agreed that the ban could …

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 …

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Tech companies put on notice as Australia passes world-first social media ban for under-16s

CNN  

Brisbane, Australia CNN — Australia’s parliament has passed a world-first law banning social media for children under 16, putting tech companies on notice to tighten security before a cut-off date that’s yet to be set. Under the new law, tech companies must take “reasonable steps” to prevent under-age users from accessing social media services or face fines of nearly 50 …

The Australian Senate debates the world’s first social media ban for children under 16
Top News
3 weeks, 5 days ago

The Australian Senate debates the world’s first social media ban for children under 16

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Senate was debating a ban on children younger than 16 years old from social media Thursday after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly supported the age restriction. “The core focus of this legislation is simple: It demands that social media companies take reasonable steps to identify and remove underage users from their platforms,” Kovacic told the …

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. …

‘Even if law helps in just smallest of ways…’: Australia passes bill to ban young children from social media
Trending News
3 weeks, 6 days ago

‘Even if law helps in just smallest of ways…’: Australia passes bill to ban young children from social media

Live Mint  

Australia's House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalise the world-first law. Critics also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of positive aspects of social media, drive children to the dark web, make children too young for social media …

Australia pushes for social media ban for kids under 16: Here are the rules
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Australia pushes for social media ban for kids under 16: Here are the rules

India Today  

Australia took a major step toward banning social media for children under 16 on Wednesday, with the lower house of Parliament passing a bill aimed at implementing some of the toughest online controls globally. The bill passed with bipartisan support, securing 102 votes to 13, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government pushes for swift enactment before the year’s end. Here …

Australian House of Representatives passes bill to ban social media for children
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Australian House of Representatives passes bill to ban social media for children

India Today  

Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalise the world-first law. Critics also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of positive aspects of social media, drive children to the dark web, make children too young for social media …

Australia’s social media ban for kids is closer to becoming law
Top News
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Australia’s social media ban for kids is closer to becoming law

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. Critics also argue the ban would isolate children, deprive them of positive aspects of social media, drive children to the dark web, make children too young …

Safety is ‘at the core’ of TikTok, European executive says
3 weeks, 6 days ago

Safety is ‘at the core’ of TikTok, European executive says

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. Read our privacy policy The safety of TikTok users “is at the core of the platform”, one …

Australia should delay social media ban for children under 16, Big Tech says
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Australia should delay social media ban for children under 16, Big Tech says

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — An advocate for major social media platforms told an Australian Senate committee Monday that laws to ban children younger than 16 from the sites should be delayed until next year at least instead of being rushed through the Parliament this week. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said she looked forward to reading the Senate committee’s assessment of the …

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 …

Tens of thousands of teens lying about their age on social media to beat safeguards
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Tens of thousands of teens lying about their age on social media to beat safeguards

The Telegraph  

The majority of children using social media apps are hiding their true age to access features meant for adults and teenagers, official research has revealed. Most under-18s using apps such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat have entered fake dates of birth to appear older than their real age, according to Ofcom. The figures outline the scale of children bypassing age …

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 …

A social media ban for children younger than 16 is introduced in Australia’s Parliament
1 month ago

A social media ban for children younger than 16 is introduced in Australia’s Parliament

The Hindu  

Australia’s communications minister introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children younger than 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges. Michelle Rowland said TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram were among the platforms that would face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars for systemic failures to prevent …

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 …

Australian parliament debates social media ban for children under 16
1 month ago

Australian parliament debates social media ban for children under 16

Firstpost  

The world-first legislation would force social media firms to take steps to prevent those under 16 years of age from accessing platforms such as X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram Australian PM Anthony Albanese has endorsed banning children from registering social media accounts until they are 16. X/AlboMP Social media companies could be fined more than US$30 million if they fail …

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 won’t force social media users to share their personal details when child ban takes effect
1 month ago

Australia won’t force social media users to share their personal details when child ban takes effect

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s communications minister said Wednesday the government won’t force social media users to hand over their personal information to tech companies, as children younger than 16 are set to be banned from the platforms. Rowland told Parliament on Wednesday the legislation will contain “robust provisions” to protect social media users’ privacy. Age Check Certification Scheme’s chief executive …

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 …

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