Parents back Australia's under-16 social media ban despite daily use: report

Eighty-eight percent of Australian parents surveyed support the country's under-16 social media ban, despite the majority using social media every day themselves, new research has found, El.kz cites Xinhua.

The report by Edith Cowan University (ECU) and Playgroup WA in the state of Western Australia (WA) surveyed 726 WA parents of children aged 0 to 8 about their social media use and its impact on parenting, according to an ECU statement on Thursday.

It found social media is deeply embedded in family life, with parents relying on it daily for information, support and connection, while increasingly recognizing its risks and backing stronger protections for children online, the statement said.

Of the 92 percent of respondents who used social media, 96 percent said they used it daily, with 99 percent accessing it via mobile phones, according to the report, which found 44 percent of parents believed social media had a somewhat or extremely negative impact on their lives, compared with 22 percent who reported a positive impact.

Parents cited concerns about children's vulnerability, brain development, bullying, addiction and online predators when supporting delayed access to social media, it said, adding that nearly half said children should be at least 16 before having an internet-enabled smartphone.

The findings highlight a striking contrast between parents' own social media habits and what they want for their children, said Catherine Archer, a senior lecturer at ECU who conducted the research.

"The same experience that makes social media useful for parents also appears to make them more aware of the risks it can pose to children," Archer said.

However, the study found 67 percent of parents reported posting photos of their children online, despite concerns about children's privacy.