Social Media - It's Not Child's Play
SAUCE. The Creative Agency
Whether you have a brand to grow, a product to sell, or a service to promote – everything’s better with Sauce.
Yesterday Australia passed a world first law banning under 16s from social media. Initiated by the South Australian State Government, the move marks the nation’s first formal steps in tackling the social media endemic for our youth.
Earlier this year, South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas commissioned an Independent Legal Examination in response to growing concerns about the potential negative effects social media has on the mental health, wellbeing and development of children. “When we see products doing children harm, whether it be drugs, cigarettes or alcohol, governments have a role to play. Social media is no different. The time to act is now,” said Malinauskas.
Since the early 2010s, the mental health of adolescents has been in decline, with anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide on the rise. The virtual world has played a pivotal role in disrupting social and neurological development, particularly for our youth. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that there is a “clear, causal link between the rise of social media and the harm [to] the mental health of young Australians.”
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Some, however, have challenged the new law, questioning its validity and the ability to successfully implement it. It’s easy to seek out the flaws and say “oh they’ll find a way around it” – and of course they will. But to avoid action based skepticism is just throwing our hands in the air in vain.
Great advertising should not pray on the insecurity of adolescence or rely on manipulation. It should foster positivity, inspire confidence and promote authentic, meaningful connections. From a marketing sense, the ban is a positive step forward.
Many of us here at SAUCE. The Creative Agency are parents of young children who will benefit greatly from this bold move by the Australian Government. It is a sound attempt at reducing an adolescent’s exposure to something that is, at best extremely addictive, at worst life damaging, and we hope more countries will follow in our footsteps.?
Content Creator
3 个月As a parent I agree that social media often isn't healthy space. I feel it's important to see this legislative change for what it is. Is it a ban? Or is it posturing? While easier to sell to the masses than education, prohibition has rarely solved damaging and addictive behaviours. Want kids off their phones? Make lasting and real investments in affordable sports and STEM infrastructure, esp. outside the leafy suburbs. "The federal law will require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent under 16s from having accounts, placing the onus of responsibility on these corporations rather than parents or children." I for one will wait see what these steps are, and how effective they remain.