There should be an age limit to join social media

Question

While the article talks about Australia’s attempt to put an age restriction of 16 on social media, there should at least be a minimum age requirement to join. Children have access to infinite amounts of information with technology, giving them access to things they should not be seeing at ages 8 or 9. With the use of control of age (maybe around 13-14), we can limit what children see on the internet and keep their experience at least a little safer. This also falls in line with the rise of mental health issues, keeping kids away from risks of cyber bullying and social isolation

Comments

I appreciate your in-depth analysis of how age restrictions have played out in other countries. I really liked how you then took that information of Australia and China, and established what you think should be the guidelines. However I wish you addressed the guidelines already put in place and how easy it is to circumvent them. Such as lying about your age. If you would get more specific on how you would regulate this if at all and actually verify someones age rather than them just saying. Because otherwise there is no point to set up the mandate.

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While in theory this is a very good idea, it would be something that is very difficult to regulate. Kids could just put fake years for their birthday or have their parents sign up for them. If a valid way to regulate this is made available however, it is a very good idea.

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This claim you made is very interesting. Age restrictions on apps can protect younger children from inappropriate content and ensures that they use the app responsibly. But there are still ways children can get around the age restriction, like lying about their ages. These are things that should be thought about when making those claims as it can help create a stronger argument. If there are plot holes to the reason on why and how age restriction on apps should be mandated the claim could look weaker.

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You made a rather intriguing claim. App age limits may protect younger users from harmful content and ensure safe app use.  But this is more of a opinion based claim than a fact check, the article's claim is opinionated. Therefore, your knowledge regarding social media's advantages and disadvantages encourages people to consider the topic from an equal point of view.

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I really enjoyed your analysis on how this has worked in other places in the world, it gives a great view into how this idea could play out if we were to integrate this idea into social media in the US.

Answer 1

I think that establishing a minimum age requirement for social media is largely a matter of personal opinion. With that being said, however, I am in favor of imposing such a requirement across all social media platforms. According to a study, American teens aged 12-15 who used social media for more than three hours every day are at twice the risk of developing mental health sicknesses such as anxiety and depression. 

Young teens are also particularly impressionable. As their brains develop, they become highly susceptible to external influences, making it difficult for them to distinguish between reality and fiction on social media. For instance, exposure to altered images can lead to body dysmorphia, as they may struggle to tell the difference between natural and edited photos. 

The influence of social media extends beyond this. Young teens may adopt certain behaviors, beliefs, or attitudes based on what they see online, which can impact their social interactions and decision-making skills. For example, they might feel encouraged to engage in risky behaviors to emulate popular influencers or peers, leading to potential negative consequences. 

Given the impact of social media on young minds, imposing minimum age requirements can safeguard teenagers' mental health and ensure that when they navigate these platforms, they have the mental capacity to do so responsibly. 

Comments

I strongly agree with your take on this claim. I highly doubt that it would get passed if it hasn't already based on numerous studies over the last decade, but I think it would have a positive impact on younger generations. My parents didn't allow me to have any social media until I was 14, and at that point I was only permitted to create an Instagram account. However before that I had been very familiar with YouTube, where I wouldn't post any videos as that wasn't my cup of tea, but I would watch my favorite YouTubers or random videos for entertainment. This was during a period when there were less restrictions on YouTube, and I was exposed to indecent material, violent videos, and unattainable beauty standards. I would say that had an effect on me as a kid, especially when I would go to school and my peers would talk about dangerous or graphic videos and they would circulate around school. By age ten I had seen much more on the internet than I should have at that age. I'm gen z, and I strongly sympathize with kids today whose parents give them free access to the internet for entertainment. I've read studies on how this level of exposure has affected gen alpha, and it's truly sad to see. I feel like I was apart of the last generation to have a childhood where we played with barbies and racecars, instead of tablets or phones. If Australia is able to implement this kind of change, I strongly believe it would have positive impact.

Answer 2

I think this is a very interesting topic and while I do agree with the attempt to try and minimize the age requirement, I find it hard to believe that society could adapt to this type of ban. Parents can do their best to try and mitigate their children from using social media but one way or another people will always find access to these platforms. Media is already seeping through our younger generations and slowly being integrated into all ages of society. 

I think you provided a good piece of new information, and you did a good job summarizing the source, I found some great information about the effects that social media has on these young ages and could be great supporting evidence for this social media ban. 

Teens and social media use: What's the impact? - Mayo Clinic

Comments

Agreed, I think the attempt to limit the kid's usage of social media, I think its something we are past as a society, children live in a world where they know nothing but technology and is a part of their daily lives, its unrealistic to keep them away from it. Furthermore we have seen time and time again, its very easy to lie about your age online and children will inevitably get access.

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I agree. Trying to restrict kids from using social media feels like an approach from the past. Children today are surrounded by technology, and it's a natural part of their lives, so it's not practical to keep them away from it. Also, we've seen countless times how easy it is to fake your age online, and kids will eventually find a way to access these platforms.

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I completely agree with you, if we tried to restrict and add an age limit for people using social media that it will promote kids to just find other ways to work around the system. Also although the affects of social media are evident, especially for young people, I do think that it should be put on the parents and their views on social media.

Answer 3

The Associated Press' claim that Australia has established an age limit for social media is true. Other reliable sources, such as NPR and Reuters, have also reported this fact. However, the claim that there should be an age limit is an opinion and therefore cannot be true or false. 

An article published by Yale Medicine states that children's social media usage can influence children's "emotional learning and behavior, impulse control, and emotional regulation."  It recommends that parents "[set] ground rules" to mitigate any potential negative effects. 

It's evident that social media influences children's mental health, brain development, and as the initial poster reflected, it can also poses the risk of cyberbullying and social isolation. With this in mind, one can understand the Australian Government's reasoning for imposing an age restriction. Once again, this does not change that whether one feels that imposing an age restriction is the best way to limit negative impacts is an opinion. 

Comments

I appreciate this answer because you offered multiple credible sources that also reinforce the claim. But you also took it a step further by explaining how social media affects youth. Finally highlighting the world "should" also adds a level of depth to your response.

Answer 4

This claim is more of a personal opinion instead of a factual one. Social media having an age limit will decrease the amount of negative exposure and help prevent the negative impacts it can have on children and young adults. The NIH states that "the risk for harm. Adolescents, ages 10 to 19, are undergoing a highly sensitive period of brain development.10, 11 This is a period when risk-taking behaviors reach their peak, when well-being experiences the greatest fluctuations, and when mental health challenges such as depression typically emerge." which shows that social media can negatively impact them during this age. But social media also has benefits and can help children learn new things. Also it's important for connection and it can help kids build connections outside of their circle. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594763/

Comments

I agree with you and the claim in the article is an opinion. So, the information you provide, which is about both the positive and negative impacts of social media, helps readers to think about the topic with a balanced perspective. It can be said that your answer will help readers to read the biased article.

Answer 5

While I agree with the claim to have a version of an age limit for specific social media platforms, the idea that there "should" be a limit is subjective and up to interpretation by parents, local government, etc. Social media has provided a variety of dangers to children, including easy access to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and self-image issues. This being said, it can also come with the benefits of contacting friends and family, sharing and viewing educational content, and many forms of expression. Social media has become a standard for youth, seeing kids under 8 with their own phones. this kind of ability to be online at all times may also take away from the, playing outside, pickup sports, imaginative types of play that all children should have.

https://childmind.org/article/how-using-social-media-affects-teenagers/

https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Social-Media-and-Teens-100.aspx

Comments

While I agree with your line of reasoning, I'm a bit skeptical about how you chose to put your argument together. At first glance, all of your statements seem valid. However, by only linking your reference sources at the END of your fact-check, it makes the content of your fact-check seem more like a personal opinion than an analysis grounded in credible content from reliable sources. In other words, putting your linked sources in conversation with one another within your fact-check would enhance the strength of your argument.