00:00If the South Australian Premier gets his way, social media could be regulated, much like
00:07cigarettes and alcohol.
00:09We have always sought to regulate, limit access to products or services that do young people
00:16harm.
00:17It is now time for us to think about mobile phones and excessive social media use in the
00:23same context.
00:24Peter Malinowskis is suggesting the state could ban kids under 14 from social media.
00:31But it won't happen right away.
00:32First, former High Court Chief Justice Robert French will conduct a legal review into whether
00:38the state could do it.
00:40It's a move which is backed by some child safety advocates who say a law change could
00:45make it easier for parents.
00:47For parents to be able to say to children across the board, I'm sorry we can't do this,
00:52it's not legal.
00:53It takes that pressure off parents.
00:56Many social media outlets have an age limit, which should mean that children under 13 can't
01:01sign up.
01:02But Mr Malinowskis says these rules don't go far enough to protect young people.
01:08There are rules from the social media companies but they don't police them.
01:11We know that.
01:13So that's why we need to make laws and rules that we can police.
01:16If the South Australian government goes ahead with a ban after their investigation, laws
01:21would be the first of its kind in Australia.
01:24Comparable laws are already being introduced overseas in places like Florida in the United
01:28States.
01:30But some experts don't support a blanket ban.
01:33We need to acknowledge that young people do have a right to be online and to participate
01:38online and to derive many of the benefits that they get from being online.
01:43While children under 14 would be banned, the proposed laws would also mean 14 and 15 year
01:48olds would need parental consent to use social media.
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