Should we be raising the age?
By Kelly Woods
Raising the age of social media access is a safeguarding measure, though are we placing these boundaries at the wrong end of digital connectivity? The discussion around raising the age of social media access to 14 has gained traction among parents, educators, and policymakers with conversations in early 2024 discussing the age of social media access to 16.
Having these discussions helps us to keep the safety and emotional health of young and vulnerable people at the forefront of community care, however, are we addressing the deeper issues of why we are needing to increase age restrictions in the first place? This article is going to help explore both the positive and negative aspects of implementing such a policy.
The positives of increasing the age of social media access
Neurological development
Between the ages of 9 through to 29, the human brain undergoes significant stages of development. Often spoken about as the period of adolescence, it is a time marked of high experience seeking, curiosity and the questions of ‘Who am I?’ ‘Where do I belong?’ and ‘Why do I exist?’.
It is understood that the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and social behaviour, matures during the mid-20s. By raising the age of social media access, we may see children better equipped to handle the complexities of online interactions and the potential consequences of their digital footprints.
Emotional and psychological maturity
Raising the age for social media access could benefit children’s emotional and psychological maturity, much like it supports their neurological development. While social media itself is not the cause of mental health issues, it can exacerbate struggles around anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. By delaying access, children may have more time to develop emotionally and socially, allowing them to better navigate the complexities of online interactions.
Reducing exposure to inappropriate content
Raising the age for social media access could be a helpful safeguarding measure for the complex social dynamics found online. As children are particularly vulnerable to inappropriate content and harmful interactions, this would help protect children from exposure to material that may not be suitable for their developmental stage.
Encouraging diverse interactions
Raising the age for social media access can encourage children to explore a range of interaction styles beyond digital connections. As our world becomes increasingly reliant on digital communication, delaying a child’s digital access could help foster a diversity of social interactions for children to experience during their formative years.
The negatives of increasing the age of social media access
Digital literacy skills
As our world is becoming increasingly reliant on digital communication, familiarity with technology is essential. Digital communications play a significant role in education and peer interactions, and by delaying social media access we could be hindering children’s ability to navigate and adapt effectively online well into their secondary education.
Social isolation
Social media plays a crucial role in fostering connections and interactions among friends. Contrary to popular belief, these online interactions can alleviate feelings of isolation or exclusion, allowing young people to share experiences and engage in conversations. Raising the age for social media access could significantly impact their social development and sense of belonging during these important teenage years.
Bypassing boundaries
Despite current age restrictions, children are already finding ways to bypass boundaries and engage with social media without the guidance needed for healthy use. While raising the age for social media access may seem like a solution to the challenges of the online world, it could overlook the root issues and increase the lack of guidance and oversight, potentially exposing children to greater risks.
Cultural and family factors
In Australia, social media serves as an essential tool for family connection and community engagement, particularly among migrant communities. Raising the age for social media access could inadvertently hinder teenagers’ ability to connect with family members who live far away.
Even at first glance we can see raising the age of social media access presents a complex dilemma, with both positives and negatives. However, whether the age of social media access changes we need to foster an open dialogue and promote healthy social media use—regardless of age. By creating safe and healthy digital communities, we can help the next generation navigate the digital landscape with resilience and responsibility.
As a parent, one effective way to foster safe and healthy digital spaces is to be online alongside your children. While this may seem straightforward, taking the time to learn about the social media and gaming platforms they use can help you understand safety features and best practices. Engaging with these platforms can also strengthen your connection with your children by building a shared interest in gaming together.
For ministry agents, promoting healthy digital interactions involves creating digital communities that foster safe and flourishing intergenerational connections. A key first step in navigating the complexities of child safety in the digital world is ensuring that all appointed leaders and ministry agents have up-to-date Working with Children Checks (or the state equivalent) and have undergone recent Safe Church Training. It’s also important to maintain open communication with the parents/guardians of children in your ministry community, ensure that two appointed leaders are present in both online and onsite gatherings, and know the complexities and safety features of the platforms your community uses for digital connections and gatherings.