News in Brief

This Australian state wants to ban children from getting social media accounts

A former High Court chief justice will investigate the possibility of imposing an Australian-first ban on children under 14 having social media accounts.

Teenage boy sitting on a bed using his smartphone.

The South Australian government, which is examining the ban, says it wants to protect kids from the harm caused by social media. Source: Getty / Richard Drury

The top line: Children under 14 in one Australian state could be blocked from opening social media accounts, with an eminent legal eagle to investigate the feasibility of a ban.

The bigger picture: South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has appointed former High Court chief justice Robert French AC to look at options for a ban.

Under the proposal, parents would also have to give their consent for children aged 14 and 15 to access a social media account.

South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas has appointed former High Court chief justice Robert French AC to examine a potential ban on children from social media accounts. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas

The proposed changes would be an Australian-first and follow legislated restrictions on children using social media accounts in Spain and the US states of Florida and Texas.

The key quote: "We are seeing mounting evidence from experts of the

adverse impact of social media on children

, their mental health and development," — South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.

What else to know: Most social media platforms require users to be at least 13 to register an account, but the age limit is easily circumvented.

What happens next: French is expected to examine the legal, regulatory, and technological pathways for the South Australian government to impose a ban within the state's constitutional framework.