The South Australian government is considering a groundbreaking proposal to protect the mental health of young people by banning the use of social media for children under 14, according to 9news.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas detailed the proposed ban, which would follow in the footsteps of Florida lawmakers who prohibited children under 14 from using platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.
According to the framework, children between 14 and 15 in South Australia would require parental consent to register for social media.
Former federal judge and lawyer Robert French has been tasked with examining how the ban could be enforced. In his report, French recommended that a regulatory authority oversee the new law, monitor compliance, handle complaints, and impose fines on companies that allow violations.
If adopted, the legislation would be the first of its kind in Australia. Malinauskas explained that the proposed ban was born out of deep concern for the mental health of young people in the state.
“Like most parents, I am concerned about the impact of social media on the children in our community,” he said in a statement.
“We are seeing increasing expert evidence of the harmful effects of social media on children, their mental health, and their development,” he added.
