Australia’s upcoming ban on social media use for under-16s, set to take effect on December 10, is being hailed by some experts as a real-world laboratory for understanding how technology affects young people.
Proponents of the world-first measure point to a growing body of research suggesting that excessive time online can negatively impact adolescent wellbeing.
Critics, however, argue that there is insufficient evidence to justify the legislation and warn it could potentially cause more harm than good.
Adolescent brains continue developing into the early 20s, noted psychologist Amy Orben, who leads a digital mental health programme at the University of Cambridge.
A “huge amount” of observational research, often based on surveys, has identified a correlation between teen tech use and poorer mental health, she told AFP.
But drawing firm conclusions remains difficult, Orben explained, because phones are deeply embedded in daily life and young people may turn to social media precisely because they are already struggling.
“With technology, because it’s changing so fast, the evidence base will always be uncertain,” she said.
“What could change the dial are experimental studies or evaluations of natural experiments. So evaluating the Australia ban is hugely important because it actually gives us a window into what might be happening.”
To explore this cause-and-effect relationship, Australian researchers are recruiting 13- to 16-year-olds for the “Connected Minds Study,” which aims to measure how the ban influences their wellbeing.
A World Health Organization survey last year found that 11 percent of adolescents struggled to control their use of social media.
Other studies have linked heavy social media use to poor sleep, negative body image, lower school performance, and emotional distress.
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A 2019 study in JAMA Psychiatry on US schoolchildren found that those spending over three hours a day on social media may face heightened risk for mental health issues.
Some experts argue that the time to act is now. “I actually don’t think this is a science issue. This is a values issue,” said Christian Heim, an Australian psychiatrist and clinical director of mental health.
“We’re talking about things like cyberbullying, the risk of suicide, accessing sites on anorexia nervosa and self-harm. We can’t wait for stronger evidence.”
Scott Griffiths of the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences acknowledged that a “smoking gun research study” proving social media’s harms is unlikely to appear soon. Still, he said the ban is worth attempting.
“I’m hopeful that the major social media companies, seeing this full-throated legislative action come into play, will finally be motivated to more meaningfully protect the health and well-being of young people.”
Public support for the ban appears strong, with more than three-quarters of Australian adults backing the legislation before it passed, according to a poll. However, an open letter signed by over 140 academics, campaigners, and experts warned that the measure could be “too blunt an instrument.”
Heim also cited growing evidence of potential risks, including a 2018 study by neuroscientist Christian Montag linking addiction to the Chinese messaging app WeChat with reduced grey matter volume in parts of the brain.