State leaders deny a ground-breaking social media summit is a talkfest and say an age limit is just one idea that will be on the agenda. A two-day, jointly hosted summit between the NSW and South Australian governments started in Sydney on Thursday, with discussions expected to focus on the details of the youth ban rather than whether it will be introduced. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Social media summit talks tougher social media restrictions.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and a host of state leaders — including NSW Premier Chris Minns and SA Premier Peter Malinauskas — have backed an age limit but are yet to disclose where the cut-off should be set. Malinauskas said a minimum age would have to be one of several responses to the “unregulated experiment” that is children’s use of social media. “We can advance not just the sense of momentum around the policy idea, but actually cement and bed down what other reforms can come on top of an age limit,” he told ABC radio.
“It’s not a silver bullet when it comes to the challenges social media presents young people, and we’ve got to be exploring every possible policy lever.” Youth mental health organisation ReachOut warned that removing social media would block access to what has become a key support for a younger generation. Its research, based on a survey of more than 2000 people aged 16 to 25, found nearly three-quarters routinely relied on social media platforms .
