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The young need to be respected, treated as equals, and taken into confidence. Banning anything, almost always, and as is the human tendency, leads to the urge to break it, and thereby explore the very thing that is banned
By Megha Bajaj
Social media platforms have become an integral part of every individual in the contemporary era, be it school kids, youngsters, those in their middle ages, and the elderly. Consequently, it carries the potency to influence human behavior positively or negatively. In the midst of this, Australia’s recent move to restrict access to social media platforms for children under the age of 16 has prompted a heady global debate, including in India.
The ban implies an onus on social media companies to prevent children from accessing their
platforms. Further, it states that companies can be fined up to $32 million if they fail to do so.
In this relentless, ever-dynamic and fast-moving digital landscape, young minds are prone to consume and interact with sensitive, precarious, predatory, and even dangerous information, visuals and videos, which are swiftly accessible on social media. Moreover, it has been established that excessive usage of social media affects pre-teens psychologically and socially, and in terms of their physical health. Excessive use of mobiles, for instance, can release bad hormones, enter the bloodstream, affect the body badly, and also cause fatigue and emptiness.
Not only this, it leads to anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem, worsens self-image and body-image issues, and creates sleep-disorders in adolescents and adults alike. Many may suffer from a crisis of identity and suffer alienation.
The latest ban by Australia has been done to counter the negative impact of social media on young and fragile minds. However, imposing a ban on social media may induce the young to defy the norm, find new tactics, and adopt a different approach to use digital platforms in an unsafe and unregulated manner.
Currently, social media platforms such as Instagram require users to provide their date of birth and meet the age criteria to create an account. Nevertheless, companies do not verify if this information is correct. Besides this, a concern about VPN (Virtual Private Network) cannot be neglected which can show the Internet being accessed from a different location.
The ban has triggered the possibilities of re-evaluating the role played by new and innovative technology in the life of young people. India should also take a look at this phenomena, take significant steps, and adopt effective digital measures to safeguard young, susceptible minds.
It could be like introducing ‘digital literacy’ as a part of education and teaching children about using social media platforms safely and responsibly. Moreover, social media platforms could introduce an option of an effective ‘filter’ at the request of nations, according to age criteria, so that parents can control and manage that network access. Awareness campaigns and counselling can be conducted online and offline to bring familiarity with the possible risks entrenched in the use of social media. Participation of parents and teachers is a must to deal with this digital aberration.
A Delhi-based journalist, who deals with fake news, said, “There is extreme addiction to social media among youngsters, but restricting them is not the ultimate solution. Young minds are naturally curious, and that curiosity cannot be suppressed. As a result, they use social media excessively. Pre-teens are quite familiar with digital tricks and techniques. Digital education is necessary for them.”
A teacher of media studies and a seasoned journalist based in Delhi said, “In the 21st century, Western influence is profound on the younger generation. We cannot control their emotions and thoughts, since human beings are vulnerable to desires, imperfections, and fallibilities. We should teach them the responsibility to navigate and handle the digital world carefully. An intelligent, moderate and balanced approach will work, and a socially sensitive and ethical protocol should be followed.”
“Over a period to time, their sense of self-worth may get attached to what peers think of them. In that context, I strongly believe social media should be completely banned for children under 16,” says Vaishali Thakur, head of counselling at Heritage Xperiential Learning School, Gurugram. She was quoted in an article in India Today (December 2, 2024).
In this digital era, it’s time for nations to adopt a more balanced and cautious approach to combat the terribly negative impact that has become dominant due to certain kind of social media platforms. Young minds tend to be affected easily.
Moreover, they are now growing with curiosity and wonder. They are learning new and interesting things in life, from books, and inside their classroom and playgrounds. Instead of banning, limiting or restricting the freedom of young minds to access the digital platforms, social and individual awareness and counselling would help.
The young need to be respected, treated as equals, and taken into confidence. Banning any thing, almost always, and as is the human tendency, leads to the urge to break it, and thereby explore the very thing that is banned.
Megha Bajaj is a Sub-Editor with Digitial Forensic Research Analytics Centre (DFRAC), a media organisation of fact-checkers based in Delhi.
Graphic by Megha Bajaj