Antisocial Media
Australian legislators are reported to be looking closely at draft legislation that would ban young people under the age of 16 from using social media even if they have parental consent. This raises the question of just how dangerous access to social media can be, and whether Hong Kong should be looking at similar legislation. A draft bill covering much the same ground is now under consideration by the United States House of Representatives, the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act (KOSPA).
The Australian government’s proposal would require all social media sites to verify users’ age and tech companies (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter) which allowed those under 16 to use their platforms would face penalties. Underage users and their parents would not be in breach.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese cited risks to young peoples’ physical and mental health to justify the proposed law. He said excessive use posed danger to young girls from harmful depictions of body image and criticised misogynist content aimed at boys.
The subject was discussed on an RTHK talk show last week. Timothy Hoffman, a local therapist who provides psychological counselling services, strongly supported the Australian move and said Hong Kong should seriously consider doing the same. He highlighted an authoritative article in the Atlantic magazine of September this year which reported how carefully the founders and CEOs of major companies in the industry restrict their own children’s use of social media. Named were Steve Jobs of Apple (allowing only limited use), Bill Gates of Microsoft (no phone until 14), Shou Zi Chew of TikTok (own children not allowed to use), Mark Zuckerberg of Meta (careful monitoring) and Evan Spiegel of Snap (90 minutes per week).
Hoffman highlighted the effects of excessive exposure to social media on the individual child. It could result in more depression and anxiety, leading to increased self-harm and even thoughts of suicide. Social media can facilitate comparison and bullying and engender fear of missing out. The individual sees someone else having a good time, and posts to show he is having an even better time in a kind of arms race. A child being bullied at school can come home and discuss with parents, at least the bullying has stopped. But on social media the bullying can continue 24 hours.
Children going through puberty are uncertain about their place in the world and where they stand in comparison with others. They have not yet acquired the resilience of adulthood and are therefore more vulnerable. Life changes are of course common to all generations, but the prevalence of and ready access to social media increases the intensity of the experience.
Another guest on the show was Cindy Ng, senior manager (Programmes and Services) of a local charity Kely Support Group. From its front line dealing with young people the agency knows browsing on the internet has become a dominant behaviour of many. Fear of missing out seems a key motivating factor, and many complain of lack of sleep. After school and homework, they are going on to social media to catch up with friends’ activities which eats into rest time. They feel compelled to keep up with the latest trends.
The agency stresses the need for prevention and education: teaching our young people how to navigate the internet safely. Social media has a positive side too: it can help peers connect. So we need to recognise its usefulness, while making it safe.
International media recently reported on the case of Alexander McCartney, 26, a former computer student from County Armagh in Northern Ireland. He pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a 12-year-old girl, Cimarron Thomas, who took her own life in West Virginia USA with her father’s handgun, rather than comply with McCartney’s blackmail demands.
Posing as a girl, he befriended youngsters on social media, then used images they had sent him to demand more, a practice known as catfishing.
His victims in "the UK's largest catfish case" were aged between 10 and 16, and located in the UK, continental Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand. Cimarron killed herself when he tried to persuade her to involve her nine-year-old sister. To compound the sadness of the case, her father committed suicide 18 months later.
Clearly then, social media can have beneficial uses while also providing scope for great evil. The question remains whether that is enough reason for governments to intercede to protect children. There is a natural reluctance in free societies to restrict access to media and the companies themselves will no doubt resist strongly on principle. But adults do owe a duty of care to the very young who are not mature enough to make their own decisions, unguided, on a range of issues. That is why we impose controls on purchase of tobacco and alcohol, classify films according to age appropriateness, set conditions on access to different premises and so on.
There remains the matter of enforcement. We don’t want this issue to become embroiled in international geopolitics (profitable American businesses being suppressed by authoritarian governments etc). Given our ID card system, we could have some advantages in terms of implementation. So let us see how the Australians get on, and above all keep an eye on progress of the equivalent US legislation. As with national security, it won’t spare us from criticism, but at least the hypocrisy will be just as blatant.
My interest in the subject is simple: my four children are all grown up now, but I have four grandchildren already and hopefully more to come.