Protecting Young Social Media Users: Challenges and Strategies

Experts suggest that implementing default limits on likes, late-night use, and filters could safeguard younger users on platforms like Instagram and Facebook. Despite these potential measures, more actions are always necessary to ensure the safety of young users.

In Australia, introducing the first-ever social media ban for children has proven challenging since the law came into effect this year. This legislation aims to address concerns about the impact of social media on young people.

As a psychologist who works with teens, Sophia Choukas-Bradley has heard from clients who spend an hour after having posted on social media obsessively refreshing their screens, watching their likes accumulate. Some buy fake likes. Others delete posts that aren’t performing well enough. This statement highlights the obsession and anxieties that social media can create among teens. Such behaviors underline the necessity for more stringent measures to protect young users.

While setting limits is a step toward reducing the potential harm of social media, this is only part of a more comprehensive approach needed to address the complex issues arising from digital engagement among adolescents.