Debates on whether children should be banned from social media

Source: The post debates on whether children should be banned from social media has been created, based on the article “Should children be barred from social media?” published in “The Hindu” on 20th September is 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2- Governance-mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Context: The article discusses debates on whether children should be banned from social media. It covers challenges in enforcing age limits, the role of parents and schools, and the responsibilities of tech companies in creating safer online spaces for children.

For detailed information on Needed, a new approach to data protection for minors read this article here

What is the debate in Australia about social media age limits?

1. The debate in Australia about social media age limits has intensified due to children’s increased online activity during the pandemic.
2. Parent groups are pushing for a ban on social media for children under 16, citing concerns about online harm.
3. Australia’s Prime Minister is supporting this, possibly to gain political advantage before the 2025 federal election.
4. Critics argue that a ban might reduce pressure on tech companies to create safer online environments for children.
5. There is concern that tech companies, like Meta, may not prioritize child safety without stronger regulation, as seen in countries like the U.K. where regulations have driven positive platform changes.

How Effective Are Age Limits?

1. Hard to enforce digitally: Age limits are challenging to enforce as children often bypass restrictions. An example is South Korea’s “Cinderella Law,” where children used identity theft to access gaming platforms after midnight.
2. India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023: This law requires parental consent for children to access platforms collecting personal data. However, low digital literacy and linguistic diversity in India complicate implementation.
3. Shared device usage: A survey in India found that 80% of children help their parents navigate online platforms, making age-based restrictions difficult to manage.
4. Low digital skills: According to the NSSO (2021), only 40% of Indians knew how to copy or move files on a computer, making ID-based verification tough to implement, especially in less digitally literate populations.

What Role Do Parents and Schools Play?

1. Parents feel overwhelmed: Managing children’s digital activities is difficult, especially with exaggerated media reports focusing on extreme harm cases, which skews perception.
2. Parents’ involvement: Research shows that when parents guide children online, it can maximize benefits and reduce risks.
3. Double standards: Children notice when parents enforce stricter rules for them while not following the same themselves, affecting parenting effectiveness.
4. Schools’ role in digital education: In India, the growing focus on digital skills for employability contrasts with concerns about screen time, requiring a balanced curriculum.
5. Need for online safety education: Indian school curricula should include lessons on online resilience, similar to physical safety lessons, as scattered initiatives are insufficient.

What Should Social Media Platforms Do?

1. A shift from just protecting children from harm to creating positive online environments.
2. The U.K.’s Age-Appropriate Design Code has led platforms like Meta and Google to improve settings for children’s safety.
3. India lacks similar regulations, highlighting a need for more proactive measures by tech companies.

Question for practice:

Discuss the challenges of enforcing age limits on social media platforms and the role of parents, schools, and tech companies in ensuring children’s online safety.