Why teens deserve a 'seat at the table' on social media age restrictions

High-profile entertainers, politicians and doctors have launched a petition lobbying the Federal Government to raise the minimum age of social media enrolment to 16 and allow brain development to occur without the effects of social media.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese called it "really important leadership" from the 36 Months petition's advocates radio host Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli and FINCH founder Rob Galluzzo.

But, as the petition nears 100,000 signatures, kids including 17-year-old high school student Ella want to be part of the conversation as well.

"We deserve a seat at the table because it's affecting our lives, it's about us," she said.

Ella thinks adolescents have valuable insights into the way the age restrictions could be implemented effectively.

"I feel like some adults would think that all young people are gonna say 'No, no, no we just want social media,' but we do understand the harm it brings and we're going to acknowledge that harm as well and think about that in a deeper way," she said.

"It's a very difficult balancing act because we know that social media can bring people together, create communities, give you access to a better understanding of issues.

"But social media is also full of misinformation and it's a platform where people are going to say things they'd never say in real life.

She said it was important that the decision is made with "well thought out research and understanding of the benefits and harms of social media".

Reminiscing about himself as an awkward 13-year-old, Mr Wipfli said he was painfully aware of everything that made him stand out from those around him.

"To be different to anybody else of the same age was just social torture," he said.

"It was all of course in my own head but that's what you deal with when you're growing up trying to figure out who you are."

That's why he believes it's so important for children to have "36 months for you to get to know yourself before the rest of the world does".

The radio host said giving a 13-year-old access to social media "would be like inviting a stranger into your house...they can show your kid whatever they want, whenever they want, for as long as they want".

"There's absolutely no way I'm going to let something else influence my child, out of my control, that can be negative and can feed on any insecurities they may have," he said.

The 16 year age restriction was designed to "hand some power back to the parents".

Mr Wipfli said parents could now give their children an altered version of a well-worn speech: "Well, you don't rob a bank and you don't steal a car and you don't go on social media because it's illegal."

And, following a law change in Australia, social media companies may respond to the groundswell of support and develop a tool to enforce age restrictions on the platform, the radio host said.

NSW school teacher Erin Barber said the age restriction would make a major difference to focus and concentration in classrooms.

"At the moment I see children who are obsessed with viral fads, cannot focus for longer periods of time and struggle to concentrate on tasks," she said.

"The biggest impact I have seen is on language development.

"Young children or tweens are using language they hear on TikTok in their writing, in the way they speak to other students and to adults which severely lowers literacy levels."

Ms Barber said "another example is linked to self confidence and body positivity".

"Social media use, especially among girls, has drastically increased bullying, self judgement against impossible viral beauty standards and trends and this produces a decline in mental health in our children.

"We have also seen a rise in sexual activity in tweens, including the sending and receiving of inappropriate photos and videos of each other, often a result of peer pressure or bullying."

These are sent over platforms such as Snapchat, she said.

"And of course cyber bullying, which happens almost daily among students using social media at a young age.

"Raising the age of social media would, I hope, reduce the distractions in the classroom, improve focus and concentration to raise achievement. Socially it would allow students to form more meaningful social connections, develop resilience, empathy and self confidence."