Industry Insights: Push to raise the minimum age to register for social media taking parents and educators by storm

A social movement to limit teen sign-ups to social media sites launched in May by Nova Sydney radio presenter Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli and FINCH founder Rob Galluzo, has sparked national interest. 36 Months is a movement that aims to raise the minimum age for social media registration from 13 to 16 years of age, with the intention of creating a ‘supportive platform for teenagers to cultivate a secure identity and navigate the digital landscape with resilience and mindfulness’. 

Why 16?

‘We’re raising an anxious generation. Excessive social media use is rewiring young brains within a critical window of psychological development, causing an epidemic of mental illness.’

Various studies have shown that social media use has both positive and negative effects on students and young people.

But the discussion has been divisive. Research shows that if social media is approached with the right information and education about safety and discernment, students will become aware of the potential risks and benefits of using the internet, limiting negative online experiences.

On the other hand, delaying social media access by 36 months will award young Australians the time to develop emotionally, cognitively, and socially, and give them the opportunity to cultivate essential skills such as empathy, self-regulation, and critical thinking – all of which are qualities that are threatened by social media use from a young age.

36 Months Movement from an educator’s perspective:

In today’s digitally driven world, it is inevitable that devices and social media will be a part of your students’ everyday lives. These platforms can be a great tool that can teach necessary, lifelong skills, but they do come with significant risks to mental and physical health and safety.

Despite concerns about how young people consume online entertainment, UNICEF’s Office of Research Innocenti found that mainstream entertainment and [online] activities may provide useful opportunities for young people to develop the interests they need to progress toward more educational, social, and civic online experiences.

By allowing young people to extend their online activities beyond entertainment alone, they are also able to develop a range of important digital and technical skills, as well as expand their capacity for critical thinking.

What are the risks?

It is estimated that one in three young people under the age of 18 are internet users.

Young internet users are exposed to a number of risks, such as cyberbullying, the presence of strangers who may try to groom them, offensive or upsetting images or videos, pornography, and identity theft. These risks, however, are not limited to internet use, and are risks that students can come across anywhere. It is important that students understand the dangers of the internet in the same way that they learn about the dangers of the real world.

What are the benefits?

Being a part of social media communities or using technology with social capabilities can be a great opportunity to learn important skills that will benefit students in many areas of their lives. Being an internet user can enable young people to exercise their right to information, become resourceful in their learning, and practise creativity through digital expression, such as writing, creating presentations and videos, graphic design, and coding.

Using the internet and social media can also teach students valuable lessons about consuming information, nurturing curiosity, and most importantly, sharpening their sense of discernment.

By teaching students how to engage in creative, purposeful, and monitored social media use, you can increase their chances at having consistently positive experiences online.

How you can inform and support students to use social media and the internet responsibly

• Make it clear to your students that there are support systems in place to help them with any issue that they might come across on the internet. You can explain to them that if they have negative experiences online, they can come to you for discussion, advice, and protection.
• Speak to your students candidly about the risks involved with internet use and give them the tools and confidence necessary to identify, minimise, and combat them.
• Understand that while it may be confronting for schools and families to allow students to be exposed to the internet, there is factual evidence that suggests that internet use does come with risks but has far more benefits to your students and their development.
• Remember that with adequate guidance, the internet can be a safe and fun way for students to learn and engage in activities.

The way your school approaches the internet, technology, and social media should include education for parents and families to ensure that students are given the support they need. UNICEF recommends that parents ‘consider what is right for your family and for the overall development of your child. The aim should not be to restrict children from internet use, or forbid certain activities, but rather to impart their online experiences and skills.’

It is recommended that families and educators should focus on what children are viewing and doing, while helping them to become more critical and resilient internet users. Educators can also aim to ensure that internet use within the classroom is relevant, appropriate, and closely monitored.

What do you think?

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