Kirra Pendergast, a cyber safety educator who talks to thousands of teenagers each year, is well aware of the dangers children face online—bullying, sextortion, threats, and more. But nothing prepared her for the intense hostility she experienced recently when speaking to a group of 12- and 13-year-olds at an Australian high school.
During her presentation, a group of boys began shouting misogynistic insults about the women shown in her slides. The situation escalated when a girl made a final, expletive-filled remark that left Pendergast in tears. “I can’t believe I’m crying on film,” she said in a video she posted later. “The behavior I saw today is driven by what they’ve seen online. It has to change.”
Once opposed to a ban on social media for children, Pendergast has since changed her stance. “I considered every argument against it and found a counter to each one. Then I thought, ‘You know what? Ban it. Just ban it,’” she shared with CNN.
In response to growing concerns about online harm, the Australian government is pushing for groundbreaking legislation that would remove social media accounts—on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook—from the devices of children under 16. If passed, this law would impose fines up to 50 million Australian dollars (roughly $32 million) on social media companies that fail to take adequate steps to prevent underage use. The government has not dictated the specifics but expects companies to adopt age-verification technologies, addressing privacy issues through the law.
However, critics argue that the legislation is politically motivated, rushed, and could push children into more dangerous, unregulated corners of the internet. Supporters, on the other hand, insist that if it saves even one life, it’s worth it.
The Tragic Impact of Online Bullying
In recent months, the tragic deaths of two 12-year-old girls, Charlotte O’Brien and Ella Catley-Crawford, have intensified calls for action. Both girls died by suicide after being bullied on platforms like Snapchat. Ella was reportedly targeted by users who impersonated others and shared private videos she sent. “Social media bullying is real,” Ella’s family wrote on a GoFundMe page in her memory.
Charlotte’s parents, Matthew Howard and Kelly O’Brien, have since become vocal advocates for raising the social media age limit from 13 to 16. They recently presented a petition with over 124,000 signatures to the Australian prime minister, advocating for the proposed ban. “No parent should have to go through what we’re going through,” Matthew said in a video shared with CNN.
Dr. Danielle Einstein, a clinical psychologist, explains that schools are struggling to manage the online behaviors that spill into real life. “Teachers are under immense pressure to address the culture that social media has created—where mean behavior is normalized and hard to control,” she said. The challenges children face online, she notes, are often visible to a much larger audience, making their mistakes harder to forget.
Political Support for a Ban
Despite typically sharp divides in Australian politics, both major parties are in agreement on the need for tighter controls. In June, the opposition party proposed the social media age limit, which received backing from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “Social media isn’t social at all. It’s doing harm to our children, and it’s time to put a stop to it,” Albanese said in an Instagram video, emphasizing the government’s commitment to protecting children from online harm.
This push for regulation is backed by parents like Dany Elachi, who, along with his wife, regretted allowing their 10-year-old daughter to use a smartphone. After seeing her life become overwhelmed by social media, including late-night messaging, they founded the Heads Up Alliance to encourage other parents to delay giving smartphones to children. Elachi firmly believes that social media is harming Australian kids and says it’s “disgraceful” to still be debating its effects on mental health.
Is the Ban the Right Solution?
Many experts argue that while the harmful effects of social media are clear, a complete ban may not be the most effective solution. More than 140 professionals signed a letter warning that the proposed ban is a “blunt” approach that may discourage tech companies from improving online safety measures for children. Instead, the experts suggest that regulations should focus on bringing digital platforms under Australian jurisdiction and involving young people in shaping the rules that affect them.
Dr. Amanda Third, co-director of the Young and Resilient Research Centre, believes the current sign-up age of 13 is suitable for many children. She contends that while the idea of a ban is appealing to parents, it would not provide the relief they expect. “A ban is not going to solve the underlying issues,” she said, adding that the debate seems more motivated by political and economic concerns, especially ahead of the upcoming federal election.
The Role of Media and Industry Pushback
News Corporation, a major player in Australia’s media landscape, has been particularly vocal in pushing for the ban. The company’s campaign, “Let Them Be Kids,” highlights the stories of children harmed by social media and urges action. News Corp’s CEO, Michael Miller, recently called for the government to act against tech giants like Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) after Meta stopped paying Australian outlets for news in 2023.
Despite the growing support for a ban, not everyone is on board. Some critics argue that it could set a dangerous precedent for government overreach. Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), dismissed the proposed ban as excessive and warned that it could be a backdoor method to control internet access in Australia.
On the other hand, platforms like Snapchat and Instagram are also addressing bullying concerns. Snapchat has urged users to block and report offenders, while Instagram has teamed up with Kids Helpline for an anti-bullying campaign.
The Ongoing Debate
As the Australian government pushes forward with this legislation, questions remain about whether a ban will solve the deeper issues surrounding online safety. Kirra Pendergast, who has witnessed firsthand the impact of online bullying, believes that even if one child is protected from harm, the effort is worthwhile. “Why is child online safety treated like a political game?” she asked. “The kids are the ones losing in this debate.”
The proposed law may still face challenges before it is passed, but the conversation about protecting children in the digital age continues to evolve, with no easy solutions in sight.