Question Time Response - Social media age limit legislation

Question - Federal Member for Dunkley, Jodie Belyea MP: 

How will the Albanese Labor Government 's legislation for social media age limits support families and promote safer and healthier outcomes for young Australians?

Answer - Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland: 

I thank the Member for her question. 

The Albanese Government understands the deep concern of many parents about the harmful impacts of social media. Including screen-time addiction. They've told us they want help managing their children's use of social media. This is why we are progressing the legislation. 

This is about helping families when they are sitting around the kitchen table to have the hard conversations about accessing social media. Mr Speaker, our laws will enable parents to say no. The normative value is immense. But this is not about Government telling parents how to parent. It's about getting kids back out in the playgrounds and on the sporting field. 

And this aligns with what we are hearing from experts. We know there are benefits for young people from accessing social media. But we also are hearing about the hazards of excessive use. In 2022 a group of UK psychologists the neuroscientist analysed longitudinal data on 17,400 young people. They found that young girls experienced a negative link between social media use and life satisfaction when they are 11-13 years-old; a negative link between social media use and life satisfaction when they are 11 to 13-years-old; and for young boys it is when they are 14 to 15-years-old. 

Mr Speaker, this legislation will help relieve some of these pressures for young people. The fear of missing out, the infinite scrolling and the addictive features. 

The Government appreciates the use that has been advanced by mental health advocates. We know online environments can be important avenues for people to connect and find their tribe and we know the harms don't go away when someone turned 16, and that is why, last week, I announced the Albanese Government's intention to legislate a Digital Duty of Care. It will place a legal obligation on the platform is to take proactive steps to protect their users. This is a landmark reform recommended by the independent review (of the Online Safety Act).

Our decision to legislate age limits for social media also builds on the changes introduced to the Basic Online Safety Expectation (BOSE) I introduced. The best interests of the child at the core of their services.

Mr Speaker, I know the challenges of online harms is something everyone in this House will be concerned about. That's why we are looking forward to working with all Members to deliver this critical legislation for age limits to access social media.