Screen Time Crackdown: Australia’s Proposal to Curb Teen Phone Use
As the world grapples with the effects of digital addiction where everyone is engrossed on the internet, Australia has taken a bold initiative by proposing restrictions on social media and phone usage for children and teenagers. This initiative is aimed at addressing the excessive screen time. While some applaud the necessity for such measures, others question its feasibility on a broader societal prospect.
The government’s main motivation is to reduce the time spent by children on the phone and make them use this time to bond with family and do productive things. It is proposed with the concern of helping the teens maintain positive mental health and improve interpersonal connections among youth.
Australia was active in addressing this issue. Some states already enforced the ban on smartphones in classrooms, but the new proposal significantly broadens the scope. Globally, countries like France and China took similar initiatives.
In France according to a report submitted to Macron, children under 11 should not be allowed to use phones, while access to social networks should be limited for pupils under 15. Whereas in China, different age groups of children were given separate restrictions to follow. The main motive is to streamline children’s time on the phone to something more useful. In 2023, the Chinese Government imposed a “Minor Protection Law” that restricts gaming for minors to three hours a week.
In comparison to what global countries do, Australia’s initiative indeed ventures beyond these measures of parental control, etc. The digital habits of Australian teens reveal why such strict measures are necessary. Excessive screen time has always been an alarming issue in Australia. As per the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), the reports and articles produced by researchers have proved how much of a threat phone usage poses for Australian youngsters. The following reports support the same.
The Media Release published in September 2016 by Maggie Yu, and Jennifer Baxter addressed the time spent by teens on social media and digital gadgets. Institute Director, Anne Hollonds said by the age of 12-13 years old, Australian children spent an average of 3 hours per week-day and almost 4 hours per weekend day using screens, or around 20 percent of their waking time on weekdays and 30 percent on weekends.
Followed by that, the Commissioned report in September 2016 by the commission body named- Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children produced key findings for the same issue. It produced stats about how much screen time is spent by teens and children affecting their multidisciplinary growth. According to a 2023 report by the eSafety Commissioner 67% of 13-17-year-olds actively use at least one social media platform. Parents struggle with control, as 41% express concerns about their children’s screen time.
The excessive screen time has been linked to a 35 percentage increase in anxiety symptoms among teens leading to decline in sleep quality and attention. The policy proposed by Australia includes several key components. Age Restrictions on Social Media Access is implemented where teens under 18 will face limitations on platform usage. Families will have tools to regulate their children’s screen time and app usage helping in implementation of parental control. Educational Institutions will play a role in monitoring compliance and raising awareness.
The government’s motivation, aside from reducing screen time, is driven by several alarming statistics that are seriously affecting teens. These stats were provided by Pasi Sahlberg, a Finnish education expert, author and professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Cyber bullying increased between 2015-16 and 2016-17, there was a 63% increase in complaints about cyber bullying, with 8% of children and 19% of teenagers reporting being cyber bullied in the 12 months to June 2016. 84% of Australian teachers observed students being distracted by digital media and technologies disrupting their focus on education. Less physical activity was observed among children. 42% of children spent less time being physically active since they were involved in digital gadgets.
While the policy is well-intentioned, it also faces notable challenges. The enforcement issue of monitoring personal usage without invading privacy is complex. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat may push back against stricter regulations, citing potential losses in their youth user base. With the digital economy contributing to the GDP annually, reduced screen time could impact advertising revenues and app-based businesses in turn resulting in reducing GDP.
The proposed policy offers various opportunities to redefine Australian youth engagement in society. The success of this proposal hinges on its execution. If implemented effectively, Australia could lead a global moment, inspiring other nations to address the complex issues posed due to screen time.
