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Four in five Australians back social media ban for children, a significant show of public support as the controversial legislation takes effect, according to a new Monash University survey released in December.
The comprehensive poll, funded by the Australian Research Council and conducted by Roy Morgan, found 79% of Australian adults support the government’s decision to ban social media for children under 16. The survey, which polled 1,598 Australians, revealed broad support across various demographics, though with notable variations by age group.
Young adults aged 18-24 showed the lowest approval rating at 72%, while middle-aged Australians (50-64) supported the measure at 80%. The strongest support came from older Australians, with 87% of those 65 and over backing the ban.
Professor Mark Andrejevic, who heads the research team that commissioned the survey, emphasized that the legislation specifically targets major international platforms that have drawn criticism for their impact on youth.
“This ban targets a handful of powerful, overseas platforms that profit from tracking young users to capture their attention and pepper them with ads,” Andrejevic explained. “These apps are flooded with loosely regulated ads and have scaled back fact-checking just as misinformation surges.”
The researcher pointed to increasingly sophisticated algorithms designed to capture and monetize young users’ attention, calling the ban “a timely intervention in an increasingly unregulated digital environment.”
The survey also revealed broad political consensus on the issue, with support transcending traditional party lines. National Party supporters showed the highest approval at 88%, followed closely by Liberal Party backers at 85% and Labor supporters at 82%. Even among Greens voters, typically more resistant to internet regulation, support reached 71%. Only Libertarian Party identifiers showed majority skepticism, with just 52% supporting the measure.
Those in favor of the ban cited numerous concerns about social media’s impact on youth. These included fears about manipulation of developing brains, rising mental health issues, cyberbullying, exposure to extremist content, rampant misinformation, and the risk of online grooming by predators.
Critics of the ban raised several objections, including concerns about government overreach into parental responsibilities, potential censorship, questions about enforcement effectiveness, and the possible isolation of young people from beneficial online social interactions. Some also expressed worry that marginalized youth might lose valuable connections to supportive online communities.
Professor Andrejevic dismissed arguments that platforms should have been given more opportunity to demonstrate improved behavior toward young users, characterizing such expectations as unrealistic given the profit incentives at play.
“This is a big ask for a system that channels untold wealth to those who have cracked the formula for filling our feeds with whatever is most likely to provide a quick dopamine hit, regardless of accuracy, civility or democracy,” he said. “The platforms do not care about the wellbeing of our children or our democracy, that is up to us.”
Australia’s pioneering move has attracted significant international attention, particularly in the United States, where lawmakers are considering similar protections through the bipartisan Kids Off Social Media Act. The Australian approach represents one of the most aggressive regulatory stances against social media giants by any developed nation.
The legislation marks a significant pivot in digital policy, recognizing growing concerns about social media’s impact on youth mental health, which has been highlighted in numerous studies and by whistleblowers from within major platforms in recent years.
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10 Comments
This is a complex issue without easy answers. I hope the government carefully considers the potential unintended consequences and looks at holistic, evidence-based solutions to protect youth mental health.
Absolutely, any policy in this area needs to be grounded in rigorous research and genuine stakeholder engagement. The stakes are too high for rushed or heavy-handed approaches.
As someone who works in the tech industry, I have mixed feelings about this. Social media isn’t inherently bad, but the business models of major platforms are deeply problematic. Comprehensive reform is needed.
I agree, the core issue is the exploitative design and incentive structures of these platforms. Banning them for minors is a stopgap solution at best.
Interesting to see such strong public support for this policy in Australia. Social media’s impact on youth mental health is a real concern that governments need to address.
I agree, the data shows a clear mandate from the public to act on this issue. Protecting children online should be a top priority.
The generational divide in support is interesting. Clearly younger Australians are more skeptical of this ban, likely due to their own experiences growing up with social media. Their perspective shouldn’t be discounted.
Good point. Engaging youth voices in the policymaking process will be crucial to developing a balanced, effective solution that addresses their real-world needs and concerns.
While I understand the motivation behind this ban, I wonder if it’s the best approach. Outright prohibitions often have unintended consequences. Perhaps a more nuanced, educational strategy would be more effective.
That’s a fair point. Balancing child safety with personal freedom is tricky. An approach focused on digital literacy and parental controls could be worth exploring.