Digital Life Regulations and Social Media Bans in Schools

In 2021, a former Facebook employee alerted executives, including Mark Zuckerberg, about alarming findings from a company survey. This survey revealed that over twenty percent of thirteen to fifteen-year-olds reported being bullied on Instagram within the previous week.

Many of these teens also indicated they received unwanted advances. In response to these concerns, Instagram has implemented various safeguards for teens, such as measures to prevent adult strangers from directly messaging underage users.

Additionally, a new feature introduced last year automatically blurs nude images in direct messages sent to users under eighteen. Despite these efforts, researchers and government officials have raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of these safeguards.

Notably, in New Mexico, three men were arrested for allegedly targeting children for sex, soliciting state investigators posing as minors on fake Instagram and Facebook accounts. In light of ongoing safety issues, lawmakers and schools have begun to impose bans on social media access.

One of the most significant measures is being enacted in Australia, where the government aims to keep most children off social media platforms. Starting in December, the Australian government will mandate that platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of sixteen from creating accounts.

Furthermore, the government seeks to deactivate existing accounts held by over one million young Australians. This measure addresses a persistent problem, as regulators have criticized social networks for allowing millions of children under the age of thirteen to create accounts without adequately enforcing their own age restrictions.

However, UNICEF Australia warns that such a ban may unintentionally strip children of the social benefits that come with social media, such as maintaining friendships and accessing educational resources.

The organization's statement emphasizes that social media has positive aspects, and simply banning access may not effectively resolve the underlying issues that young people face online.