Western Australia Parents Support Social Media Ban for Under 16s
A study finds 88 percent of Western Australia parents support a social media ban for children under 16 despite their own daily platform use.
Catherine Archer, a senior lecturer at Edith Cowan University, led a study revealing that 88 percent of surveyed parents in Western Australia support a social media ban for children under 16. The research, conducted in partnership with Playgroup WA, highlights a contradiction where parents use social media daily for support while recognizing risks including addiction, bullying, online predators, and impaired brain development.
Archer noted that the same experience making social media useful for parents also makes them more aware of the risks it poses to children. The study found that 44 percent of respondents believe social media negatively impacts their own lives. Despite these concerns, 67 percent of parents admitted to posting photos of their children online, indicating a conflict between their privacy concerns and digital behaviors.
