It “doesn’t make sense” to remove existing teen users of social media from the platforms just a year or two before they regain access, Andrew Barr says.
The ACT chief minister’s comments point to the possibility that existing users could be grandfathered by the proposed social media ban so they keep their accounts or are temporarily moved on to teen-friendly versions, such as that recently introduced for Instagram by Meta.
Barr told Guardian Australia he didn’t have a “concluded view” about whether the ban should apply at age 14, 15 or 16 but acknowledged “there are some arguments around existing users”.
“It might be that [for] our current 14-year-olds who are going to become 15, 16, etc – it probably doesn’t make sense to knock them off a platform for a year for them to then come back on,” he said.
Barr said he would be guided by “logistical, legal, practical realities” but suggested a “transitional arrangement” could be a possible way to introduce the ban.
“Those who are currently on the platforms could be migrated to teen-suitable [accounts] like the Instagram process, or kept on, and then not allow new 14-year-olds, if that ended up being the age.”
Barr, whose government has entered caretaker mode ahead of the 19 October ACT election, called on other social media companies to follow Meta’s lead with teen accounts.
Opposition to banning younger teens from social media is growing, with more than 120 experts and academics and dozens of youth, mental health and legal organisations signing an open letter to the prime minister arguing against it.
The letter, signed by organisations including Project Rockit, Save the Children, Reach Out, Bravehearts, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation and the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, also went to the premiers of New South Wales and South Australia – the two states co-hosting a conference on social media on Thursday and Friday.
In September, Anthony Albanese announced a national ban would be in place before the next election, after a push by the South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, gained support among other states and territories.
Last week the prime minister wrote to first ministers of the states and territories asking them for their views on what age a social media ban should apply and whether to “grandfather” existing arrangements for current account holders.
The letter to Albanese, Malinauskas and Chris Minns argued that while social media does present risks for children, “a careful and evidence-based response” is required to address them.
“The online world is a place where children and young people access information, build social and technical skills, connect with family and friends, learn about the world around them and relax and play,” the letter said.
“Any restrictions in the digital world must therefore be designed with care and we are concerned that a ‘ban’ is too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively.”
The letter said the ban affects the rights of children to participate online, and that implementing it would be a challenge.
“There are not yet effective techniques for age assurance nor to verify parental consent, and privacy concerns remain.”
The letter said a ban would disincentivise companies from making their platforms safer, potentially affecting teens who slip through the ban.
A tender for a trial of age assurance technology closed this week.
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, on Tuesday told reporters it was “deeply frustrating” that tech companies “don’t take stronger action” despite already having “the tools to manage the content” on their platforms.
Allan launched consultation in Victoria over the proposed ban, suggesting there was “a bit of a consensus between parents, children and young people that around that 14 age is about right”.
“My view is particularly shaped by young people directly, hearing from teenagers who as they have become older teenagers come to recognise their use at a young age was not appropriate,” she said. “That [they] weren’t ready for … that tsunami of inappropriate content pumped into their feed.”
NSW on Friday released results of a survey that found 87% of respondents supported implementing age restrictions for social media use, with 16 being the most favoured minimum age.
The sentiment was particularly strong among parents, with 91% of those with children aged 5-17 advocating for age limits.
On Sunday Minns said he wanted to see a social media age ban “as soon as possible”.
“This is a big change for Australia but I think it’s warranted, given this is, in my view a global, unregulated experiment on young people and the prevalent use of social media,” Minns told Sky News.
