2024-09-10
The Greens have criticised the Prime Minister’s plan to ban teenagers from social media, labeling it “knee jerk politics that lacks evidence and expert support”.
They have called on the Federal Government to instead better regulate the tech giants and ban their use of predatory algorithms, data harvesting and advertising that target young people.
Greens Spokesperson for Communications and Deputy Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Greens do not support banning young people from social media because we have listened to the experts. Parents are worried about the safety of their kids, but the Government’s knee jerk policy lets the big tech giants off the hook.
“We have participated in the Government’s own Inquiry set up to examine an age limit ban in good faith. The PM on the other hand hasn’t bothered to listen to any experts and instead is following Peter Dutton’s lead once again.
“We urge the PM, stop following Dutton and his dangerous policies and be a leader in real reform that tackles the scourge of unregulated global platforms profiting off the suffering of everyone, not just our kids.
“Expert after expert is coming out today warning that a ban will not keep our young people safer or make platforms safer, and may actually cause more harm.
“Not even the e-Safety Commissioner supports a ban - the Government’s own online safety expert.
“We don’t ban kids from going to the beach - we teach them how to swim and make sure they swim between the flags. There are safety measures put in place to keep them safe - flags, lifeguards, adult supervision and swimming lessons.
“We need to teach children how to use social media and understand there are many positive benefits, particularly for marginalised kids, to being online.
“If the PM wants to make social media safer then he should get on with tackling the harmful business practices of the digital platforms.
“Social media giants should be banned from targeting our kids with algorithms and advertising, and from data harvesting, especially of private information.
“Our online spaces should be safe for everyone and they should be safe whatever age young people get online. The EU and other countries have led the way and it’s time Australia followed. This is the evidence the Inquiry has overwhelmingly heard so far and it should be listened to.