Experts argue that ensuring children's safety online requires a more comprehensive approach than simply restricting access to social media for users under 16. While minimizing risks such as addiction-inducing algorithms, cyberbullying, and grooming is an obvious priority, specialists emphasize the need for platforms themselves to be accountable and to implement privacy-by-design principles to create a truly safe digital environment.
Some countries, such as Australia, have already adopted relevant laws, and New Zealand has developed proposed legislation.
Belinda Matore, a lawyer and LL.M. candidate specializing in children's digital rights and platform regulation at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, acknowledged valid arguments for restricting access to social media for teenagers under 16. Nevertheless, she expressed concerns about a blanket ban, especially regarding children's rights.
In her view, social media provides children with educational, social, and self-expression opportunities, so any ban must strike a balance between potential harm and children's rights to information, expression, and privacy. Furthermore, implementing age verification raises questions about children's data privacy under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
Matore stressed that a complete ban should not replace broader platform regulation. Instead, a risk-assessment-based approach should be used, covering platform design, age assurance, privacy, privacy-by-design, and overall platform responsibility.
She noted that data on how effectively universal age bans reduce teenage social media use remains inconclusive and preliminary. Reviews of studies concerning Australia's minimum age law show minimal immediate impact. Other research points to compliance issues and circumvention of restrictions. Further scientific investigation is needed to assess long-term effects on sleep, mental health, and education.
Matore also mentioned that parents can set screen time limits, but monitoring their adherence is difficult when multiple devices or bypass methods are used. Moreover, the quality of time spent online varies: educational content differs significantly from feeds personalized by engagement-boosting algorithms.
In conclusion, regulatory focus should be placed not only on the duration of children's online presence but also on what functions platforms are designed to perform in the presence of children. Ultimately, children's online safety cannot rest solely on the shoulders of children and parents; platforms must also be responsible for creating a safer digital environment.
Adeshini Naiker, Director of Childline KwaZulu-Natal, believes that a ban could provide some protection for younger children and place greater responsibility on social media companies to protect children on their platforms. However, she warned that a ban alone is insufficient to solve the problem.
Naiker added that children will still seek to use social media, and some will be able to circumvent imposed restrictions. The possibility of children moving to other platforms with even lower levels of protection must also be considered. For South Africa, she believes it is important to carefully analyze what is realistic and controllable. A ban must be accompanied by educational work for children, parents, and teachers on online safety, and it must demand greater responsibility from social media companies in protecting children.
Naiker cited Australia as a prime example because it was the first to adopt such legislation, although early studies show that children circumvent these restrictions. She emphasized that drawing conclusions about long-term impact too soon is premature, and further research is required. For her, the key question for South Africa is not whether to ban social media for children under 16, but what will actually help make children safer online. She also noted that while protecting children from online dangers is important, legislation must not create new risks. The focus should be on fostering a safe online environment, not merely excluding children from social media.