Global Concerns Prompt Changes in Youth Social Media Access
Amid escalating global trepidations regarding the effects of technology and social media on minors, Australia has recently taken a landmark step.
Earlier this month, it became the first nation to prohibit access to social media, encompassing platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, for individuals under the age of 16.
A study conducted by AAP, spearheaded by Ran Barzilay, a professor of psychiatry and child-adolescent psychiatrist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, scrutinized data from more than 10,500 children across 21 different locations in the United States. The findings were alarming.
The research established that children who received their first mobile devices at age 12 exhibited a greater than 60% increased likelihood of experiencing poor sleep. Moreover, the risk of obesity surged by over 40%.
“Among 3,486 youths who did not possess a smartphone at the age of 12, those who obtained one in the past year reported higher instances of clinical-level psychopathology and inadequate sleep,” the authors elaborated, emphasizing the essentiality of controlling for pre-existing mental health and sleep patterns.
The researchers concluded that smartphone ownership correlates strongly with depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep in early developmental stages, subsequently advocating for the establishment of public policies aimed at safeguarding young individuals.
Barzilay articulated the gravity of the situation, stating, “This is not something you can ignore for sure,” during an interview with The Washington Post.
Australia is at the forefront of national social media regulations, mandating tech behemoths to obstruct access starting December 10. Reports suggest that Malaysia and other nations are contemplating analogous initiatives in the forthcoming year.
Concerns regarding technology’s impact on children have driven Australia to ban social media for those under 16.
In the United States, numerous states have enacted legislation creating barriers to children’s social media access. This includes Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee, wherein parental consent is now necessary for younger teens to establish accounts.
Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel has characterized children’s social media usage as a public health crisis, urging legislators to emulate Australia’s decisive actions.
In a contrasting development, TikTok finalized an agreement earlier this month to divest its U.S. operations in a joint venture led primarily by American investors Oracle and Silver Lake, alongside Abu Dhabi-based MGX. This arrangement ensures the continuation of the platform’s usage in the United States.
The consortium is now poised to collectively own 45% of the U.S. entity, with each investor holding 15%, while approximately one-third will be allocated to affiliates of existing ByteDance investors. Close to 20% will remain with ByteDance itself.
Source link: Inkl.com.
