On November 28th, the Australian government approved the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) law. The legislation prohibits teenagers under 16 years of age from creating social media profiles on platforms such as Instagram, X, Snapchat and Facebook, among others. However, Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, YouTube and Google Classroom platforms can be used by the young population.
The argument that supports the government decision makes reference to the alarming rates demonstrated by recent surveys in the country indicating high levels of dissatisfaction among teenagers. Concerns related to safety, negative effects on sleep and stress were also adopted to inform the decision. According to data available on the Ministry of Communications website, approximately two-thirds of the population between 14 and 17 years of age was exposed to harmful content online, including illicit drug use and suicide.
The legislation will come into force in 2025. Similar measures are being evaluated in different countries. In Brazil, the State of São Paulo approved a measure that prohibits the use of cell phones during school hours. The law will also come into force next year. However, these decisions are surrounded by a series of questions about their effectiveness and how they will be implemented
In view of countless challenges posed by the recurrent use of media in the daily lives of children and young people, especially cell phones and Internet access, the relevance of media literacy is deepened to inform the young population about risks, but also of its positive outcomes to (re)inforce the right to expression and participation.
For information on the uses and practices of media among Portuguese children and young people, the bYou project recently published the article, Mapping media practices of children and young people in Portugal, journal Comunicación y Sociedad. It will be available soon the article Under the microscope: media and mobile phone use among children and young people in Portugal, Revista Mediterranea.
Sources:
www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au
Foto: Sara Kurfes, Unsplash.

Mais informarções em byou@ics.uminho.pt