Australia is the latest nation with plans to introduce an age limit to social media platforms, while Instagram’s parent company Meta have recently rolled out “teen accounts” for those under 18.
Questions remain how either measure would be enforced but in the meantime, teenagers continue to access popular apps such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Youtube.
So what can parents and caregivers do to help children navigate social media safely?
What are the risks of using social media?
While using social media offers benefits such as helping teens maintain friendships, follow their interests and better understand their learning, it also comes with risks.
Those risks, according to the Australian government-funded website, Raising Children Network, include:
- exposure to or uploading inappropriate content
- sharing personal information with strangers
- cyberbullying
- exposure to too much targeted advertising and marketing
There are risks and benefits to social media use. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill)
Open communication is key, experts say
Professor Michael Dezuanni is the chief investigator at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.
He said while it was difficult to point to “any one particular sign that there might be something going on”, caregivers should have open conversations with their children about what they are doing online.
“By having that close personal relationship with their children, that’s going to be the best way parents are going to know something is up about social media,” he said.
Michael Dezuanni says parents need to talk to children about what they are doing online. (ABC News: Craig Andrews)
He said children should be taught basic safeguards such as only adding trusted people on social media and never posting anything harmful about themselves or others.
“If they come across anything online they might be uncomfortable [with] in any way, then they should share that with a trusted adult,” he said.
The Digital Child website also recommends being aware of the apps children are using and the privacy settings.
In addition, it says parents and caregivers should be mindful of their own social media use, including posts that include images of their children.
How much is too much?
The Black Dog Institute’s Future Proofing Study shows adolescents on average spend two to three hours a day on social media, with 28 per cent spending four or more hours.
The research found the relationship between screen time and mental health is “complex”, with little evidence that longer screen time causes poorer mental health.
Instead, it found teenagers using social media apps to communicate with friends was associated with lower symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Teenagers use social media to connect with friends. (ABC News: Nethma Dandeniya)
But the study found “passively consuming content” on social media apps for long periods of time or infinite scrolling could displace other healthy activities such as learning, social interaction, sleeping and exercise.
Professor Dezuanni said previously, the American Medical Association set a two-hour limit on online use but researchers have since learned “what is healthy and appropriate” could be different for different children.
He said, for instance, using Facetime to chat with family members was different to playing “meaningless or mindless” online games.
“It’s really not so much about the amount of time, it’s about the kinds of activities that are occurring,” he said.
Dealing with cyberbullying
Almost half of Australian children reported being treated in a hurtful or nasty way online, according to 2021 research by the eSafety Commissioner.
Cyberbullying can take different forms, such as sending hurtful messages, sharing embarrassing photos of someone or spreading harmful gossip, leaving them out online, or creating fake accounts of someone.
A young person may not always tell an adult about being bullied online, but could show signs like being upset after using devices, avoiding friends or social activities, or becoming anxious or withdrawn.
If you suspect cyberbullying is occurring, the eSafety Commissioner advises listening to the child without judgement and providing support rather than banning them from their devices.
Caregivers could collect evidence of the cyberbullying material, help block the offending user and change settings to hide upsetting posts.
Cyberbullying can be reported to the social media service where it has occurred and if the material is not removed, a parent can make a report to eSafety.
Managing harmful content
Social media apps have parental controls and restrictions for users under 18, but Professor Dezuanni said such features “are never going to be perfect”.
“They’re also very reliant on parents keeping on top of those parental controls – as apps are updated, for instance, often the controls change,” he said.
“Children might be exposed to adult content or content that most parents just wouldn’t want them to be viewing at a particular age.
“It might be social media content that is more appropriate for older teenagers for instance than it is for children.”
Under Australian laws, eSafety can issue a take-down notice to remove material that shows extreme violence but the first step is to not share the content.
The eSafety website shares tips on how to start the hard-to-have conservations with children as young as five, including discussions about respectful relationships and consent.
How does social media affect body image?
A 2018 survey found adolescent girls who viewed digitally altered photos of females on Instagram reported having poorer body image compared to those who saw the original, unaltered images.
Adelaide psychologist Daniela Brkic said a ban on social media would help lower the prevalence of anxiety, body dysmorphia and eating disorders for children aged 8 to 14.
“There is a lot of anxiety and depression that is presenting because of social media, it’s just trying to reach this idolised perception of what these kids should be,” she said.
“Young children are just trying to attain to that and not realising everyone is just out there on social media showing their highlight reels.”
Daniela Brkic says social media portrays an idealised world. (ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke)
The Butterfly Foundation suggests helping to develop a healthy body image by:
- reflecting on their relationship with their body and showing kids they are comfortable in their own skin
- avoid talking about diets
- discussing with children the realities of digital manipulation
- talking to children about the way they feel about how they look.
