The Minns government has released the findings of a major statewide survey, revealing widespread community concerns about the impact of social media on children, young people, and broader society.
The survey, conducted between 11 August and 15 September this year, engaged more than 21,000 participants from across the state through the ‘Have Your Say’ platform.
This is the largest response to a ‘Have Your Say’ public consultation to date.
It found that 87 per cent of respondents support implementing age restrictions for social media use, with 16 being the most suggested minimum age.
This sentiment was particularly strong among parents, with 91 per cent of those with children aged 5-17 advocating for age limits.
The survey reveals a growing concern over the time young people spend on social media, with those aged 16-17 averaging over three hours per day. This trend begins as early as 10-12 years old, where 70 per cent of children are already using social media, and usage steadily increases with age.
Additionally, 35 per cent of parents of 13-15 year olds, especially in single-parent households, report that social media has a ‘negative’ or ‘very negative’ impact on their child’s life.
Parents cited concerns over excessive screen time leading to issues such as addiction, exposure to inappropriate content and the detrimental effect on their children’s daily responsibilities.
Young people themselves echoed some of this sentiment, with 66 per cent of 16-17 year olds expressing that social media distracts them from essential tasks such as schoolwork and family obligations.
The survey highlights a clear correlation between time spent on social media and negative outcomes reported by parents. Parents whose children use social media for more than four hours a day were more than twice as likely to note negative impacts on their child’s life, compared to parents whose children spend less than an hour a day online.
The most frequently mentioned issues include ‘cyber security risks’, ‘exposure to harmful content’, and ‘concerns over how social media usage is affecting children’s behaviour’. Notably, parents of younger children who lack rules or safety measures often cited uncertainty about what to implement, signalling a need for more guidance and solutions.
The insights gathered from the survey will play a crucial role in shaping discussions at the upcoming Social Media Summit.
Jointly hosted by the NSW Government and the Government of South Australia, the first of its kind two-day, two-state event will bring together experts, policymakers, young people, and community voices to discuss strategies to combat the negative impacts of social media and foster a more positive digital future.
The summit will start at Sydney’s International Convention Centre on Thursday, 10 October and continue the following day at Adelaide’s Convention Centre.
Giant unregulated experiment
Premier of NSW Chris Minns said, ‘The community has spoken, and the message is clear. Parents are concerned about how social media is impacting the lives of young people.
‘The huge response to this survey sends a powerful message about the extent of community concern,’ he said. ‘Parents and children are rightly concerned about this giant global unregulated experiment on young people.
‘The feedback we’ve received will guide discussions at the Social Media Summit and help the government as we respond to the harmful aspects of social media.’
Further details about the summit, including full event schedules and online live streaming information, will be released soon. To see the full report of survey findings and to stay updated on the summit, visit www.nsw.gov.au/socialmediasummit.
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