Mental health organisations have suggested limiting infinite scroll features as one measure to improve the safety of social media platforms for young people.
In a submission to the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society, ReachOut, Beyond Blue and Black Dog Institute set out a range of recommendations, with other suggestions including verification of health content on platforms and more user-control when it came to algorithms.
The groups also called for co-designed policy measures that compelled social media platforms to work according to safety-by-design principles and funding for more research into the links between social media and mental health.
ReachOut Director of Service Jackie Hallan said although social media posed significant risks to young people, it was important to consider the benefits and unintended consequences of any ban.
“Young people are digital natives and for many that means that social media is already part of their worlds. Unfortunately, for too many young people that time on platforms has led to harm. It is clear that social media platforms need a lot of change to improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing,” Ms Hallan said.
“However, the proposal that the age of accessing social media be increased from 13 to 16 simplifies what is a very complex issue.”
She said it ignored the fact many young people were using social media to access things like mental health support, to build their identities and as a source of connection.
“The solutions we are proposing put the lived and living experiences of young people across Australia at the centre of policy making.
“They are evidence-based and they look at the complexity of young people’s online worlds. What we don’t want to see are solutions that lead to unintended harms,” she said.
