I'm fascinated by the fact that around the world, there seems to be a growing acceptance from parents that we have got to limit kids’ access to social media.
There's a poll out of Australia today showing more than two thirds of voters over there support raising the minimum age of social media from 13 to 16.
And this comes off the back of the Australian Government and the UK Government and various states in the US all trying to figure out how to force the social media companies to stick to the rules and make sure there are no under-13s using the platforms.
I was at my brother and sister-in-law’s place yesterday, they've got a pre-teen boy. And my sister-in-law was saying they really want to limit his access to screens, but all his friends have access - so it's hard to keep him off.
And this is where a rule like a minimum age of 13, or even 16, is so important.
I generally don’t like regulation, generally I'm going to say no unless there is a really strong case for it. And I reckon there is a strong case for this one.
Parents don't really need the regulation, because parents can keep the kids off - and better parents will be better at it than others.
But peer pressure is a real problem. And it would be so much easier if it's just the rule for all the kids below a certain age.
And more importantly, it is doing the kids a favour. Yesterday, both my sister-in-law and I agreed we're going to read Jonathan Haidt's latest book - The Anxious Generation.
He reckons the spike in mental health problems that we’re seeing in kids at the moment is because of the mass adoption of smartphones and social media.
Because as adults, you and I can look at social media and tell ourselves that it’s just one picture - and the tanned supermodel by the pool in Fiji still has to deal with all of life’s challenges like you and I.
But kids can’t understand that. They look at it, they compare their lives to the pictures, and
it makes them anxious and depressed.
So I guess I'm one of those parents. Because I reckon we raise the social media age and then enforce it.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.