Department of Premier and Cabinet Social Media Safety submission – October 2024

YACSA recognises the State Government’s intention to protect young people from potential harm and is pleased to provide feedback on the draft Children (Social Media Safety) Bill 2024 which seeks to implement a ban on social media use for young people under 14 years of age and apply restrictions for young people aged under 16 years.

Young people are considered generally more at risk of experiencing harm than adults however, young people should not be considered solely based on their vulnerability. It is vital to acknowledge that
risk of harm does not equate to harm itself and developing a capacity to safely navigate ever-present risk is important for the development of interpersonal skills like resilience. Supporting young people to develop as individuals reduces harm and helps to avoid implementing a protectionist approach that likely infringes on young people’s rights and that potentially limits young people’s development.