- One cannot help but quote the popular saying that every innovation/invention/ development/introduction comes with advantages and disadvantages. Merits and demerits are part of the package, as the saying goes. At the cost of sounding cliched, a knife serves a dual purpose. It can be used for innocuous purposes like cutting vegetables. At the same time, the knife can be used fatally too. How effectively we use the available tools at our disposal makes the difference. As we know, the monumental presence of social media platforms in the last few years has been indescribable, to say the least. The way social media platforms have assumed such an inalienable part of our daily lives needs no further elaboration.
PC: Masibus Update
- Humankind’s dependence on smartphones and the ever-expanding internet to keep us connected, cutting across boundaries, is mind-boggling. Nonetheless, the concerns of the global community invariably get accentuated when young impressionable teenagers are hooked onto smartphones, leading to severe complications in their growth prospects. Innumerable stories about the anomalies associated with excessive use of social media platforms by youngsters and adults alike have been disseminated in detail. To curb this growing menace, Australia has introduced a ban on social media for under-16s that came into effect last week. The moot point to ponder over here is whether the measure would be effective to meet the intended objective. Let’s dwelve.
PC: Nikkei Asia
- Indeed, the global community’s eyes will be glued on Australia. Canberra’s move, announced last year, had upset tech giants. However, the Australian government is sticking to its guns and targeting 10 major platforms, viz. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch – who will be required by law to verify the age of users and refuse or deactivate accounts of those under 16. But the larger question is, will it work? True, there’s a growing body of evidence that excessive social media exposure is harmful for children. Canberra’s own study found that seven out of 10 children aged 10 -15 had been exposed to harmful content, including material promoting misogyny, eating disorders, and suicide.
PC: The University of Queensland
- Further, recall also Meta’s leaked internal documents that showed its online platforms contributed to body image issues and suicidal thoughts among teenagers. But is fining social media platforms – up to 50mn Australian dollars for failing to comply – the answer? Today’s children are growing up in a tech-dependent world and are savvy enough to devise ways around the ban – use VPN and/or create fake profiles. Plus, the ban could push teens to darker and more dangerous corners of the web, increasing harm further. Besides, the list of platforms isn’t exhaustive. Gaming platforms are exempt as of now. Parental control/monitoring, awareness, and guidance on effective usage must be the way forward. Banning will only open other avenues.
