I recently came across a new campaign, 36 months, petitioning to raise the minimum age of social media sign-up from 13 years to 16.
Co-founded by Michael Wipfli, Aussie radio personality (you may know him as ‘Wippa’ … as in ‘Fitzy and Wippa’ …!) and Rob Galluzo, founder of the film production company FINCH, the campaign’s aim is “to change policy and raise the threshold for social media citizenship”:
“Kids need more time to develop healthy and secure identities before they’re exposed to the minefield of social media. We’re urging the government to change policy and raise the threshold for social media citizenship. This means delaying the age teenagers can sign up for social media accounts from 13 to 16 – 36 Months.”
And why 16?
As explained on the campaign website, raising the age of social media sign-up from 13 to 16 years old is about allowing kids’ more time to “know themselves before the world does”.
It’s about safeguard kids’ mental health — particularly as it relates to ‘social confidence’ and allowing them to simply be kids, without the added pressure of social media.
Because let’s face it: there’s nothing ‘social’ about social media!
“We’re raising an anxious generation. Excessive social media use is rewiring young brains within a critical window of psychological development, causing an epidemic of mental illness.
At 13, children are not yet ready to navigate online social networks safely. These years are crucial for them to develop a secure sense of self alongside social confidence.”
‘thankful i didn’t have social media’
As with most viral campaigns, 36 months has some Aussie celebs (who are also parents) backing the petition and calling on the government to make changes.
Zoë Foster Blake, founder of Go-To Skincare, is one such Aussie celeb, who alongside a couple of super cute snapshots from her teen years, wrote on her … well … Instagram account (click here):
“If I’d had a smartphone and social media when these photo [sic] were taken, my brain chatter would’ve been very different: we’re gonna miss the bus/will Supre still have those flares I want/can Wayne’s World be as funny the third time? (Yes).
[…]
” I’m thankful I had no Instagram or TikTok or even a front-facing camera as a teen. Smartphones and social media are – surprise! – proven to be the cause of the skyrocketing rates of adolescent mood disorders like anxiety, depression, especially for girls, as Jonathan Haidt [NYU professor and] author of ‘The Anxious Generation’ illustrates.”
Check out Jonathan’s interview on the Rich Roll Podcast here:
“Puberty is this really important period in child development in which the brain is rewiring based on inputs it’s getting. And all around the world adult societies helped their kids through that transition — how does a boy become a man, how does a girl become a woman? — and what we did in the early 2010s is say, ‘How about we don’t we don’t help you with that at all?’
“‘How about we give you a device, which will take up all of your attention […] and a lot of that attention is going to be to random weirdos on the internet who are selected by an algorithm because of how extreme their performance is as voted by other random weirdos on the internet.’
“‘How about if we let THAT socialise you?’ […] that is the biggest single cause of the gigantic increases in anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicide that are the characteristics of Gen Z.” – Jonathan Haidt, Rich Roll Podcast.
Frightening.
Like Zoë, as a teen in the 90s/early 00s — I turned 13 in 1996 — I’m also so thankful I didn’t have access to social media in those formative years.
In fact, I didn’t have my first phone, which was one of those original Orange cell phones, until I went to uni … so at like 18 or 19 years old!
I had enough of a hard time being bullied by horrible little twats in my first year of high school without needing to take that antisocial crap home with me.
I was able to get some reprieve from the bullying each afternoon — imagine that following you home … and wherever you went! Imagine your bullies being in your pocket or on a screen in your bedroom. No thanks!
That bullying I endured in high school at 12/13 years old … the consequences of that have stayed with me.
Even now, as a grown woman, I’m still dealing with it — it shaped my self-esteem and forever altered how I see myself.
Sport — especially running — has helped me deal. As has seeing a therapist a few times.
I became incredibly aware of my appearance and my perceived flaws, and it was paralysing at times.
It also led to body dysmorphia — something I’m still dealing with, now.
A while back I wrote a post about it, ‘Mirror, Mirror’. Click here to read it.
do we need a government telling us what to do?
Kids — and especially vulnerable kids — need to be protected and helped during their most vulnerable, tender years.
Limiting access to not-so-social social media, is one way towards this.
I think, as parents, it’s our job to be vigilant about what we allow access to. It’s our job to protect our kids as much as we can.
We can help them grow and develop … provide them with strength, love, support and nurturing … the tools to help them withstand what the world throws at them.
We can’t shelter them from everything — no kidding! — but we can provide an environment at home that sets them up in a positive way.
We can provide them with a safe environment — one in which they can grow to become confident, strong, empowered young adults and beyond.
Do we really need government legislation in order to do this?
Well, I’m not so sure.
I mean, I feel really strongly about this issue so I’ll definitely support the 36 months campaign by signing the petition, but I believe all of this can and should start at home.
Sure, parents benefit from all the support we can get … but it still starts with us. What are we allowing our kids to access?
Government support is welcomed, but I believe that first and foremost, it’s my job as a parent, to be vigilant about what my child is exposed to.
I mean, do I need a government telling me that exposing my child to things like alcohol, cigarettes and drugs, is bad?
Of course not.
Do I need a government telling me that excessive exposure (or any exposure really) to screentime isn’t great for her development?
Again, no.
Same goes with social media.
I don’t necessarily need a government legislating social media access before I teach my child about its ugly dark side — before I limit access.
Limiting access to social media until she’s old enough and, developmentally ready and equipped well enough to be able to handle it!
And no, I don’t agree that it’s “unfair” to place at least some of the responsibility on parents — “unfair” that it’s also a parent’s responsibility to limit access to various things like social media.
But a legislation that helps parents is certainly welcome.
If it provides an additional shield — in addition to what Little Miss A will get at home — then I’m all for it.
I’ll be signing the petition.
(Click here if you want to sign it as well.)
And I’ll also be reading and learning about all the evidence-based strategies I can get my hands on to provide the best possible environment — and upbringing — for our precious Little Miss A. To provide her with all the tools and equipment she needs to deal with everything the world throws at her.
Mamamia Out Loud also discuss this on their 3 June podcast episode (from about 14:30 minutes).
Let me know what you think!
x G.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues reach out to Beyond Blue or seek access from your medical provider or call triple 0 (000) in an emergency.
editor, journalist, digital content creator with a background in nutrition & dietetics.
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