Dr Abhishek Prasad PhD. –
Australia’s recent move to ban children under 16 from using social media has reignited a global discussion about how to safeguard young people in the digital age. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, passed in November 2024, makes technology companies liable for ensuring that users are above a certain age and that they cannot access the platform if they are under that age, with hefty fines for non-compliance. While many have promoted the law as a bold step in the direction of protecting children, some argue such restrictions could lead young users to less regulated online spaces. For India with its millions of adolescent internet users, the question is both timely and important. Should India follow suit?
From a psychological point of view the concerns are real. There is growing evidence that overuse and unsupervised use of social media is associated with increased levels of anxiety, depression, sleep problems, body image concerns, cyberbullying, and decreased psychological well-being in adolescents (Keles et al., 2020; Odgers & Jensen, 2020). Although most platforms officially restrict users under the age of 13, these protections are readily circumvented, exposing many children to digital environments for which they are not developmentally equipped.
But for the Catholic Church the debate is more than one of regulation. The Church has always recognised technology as a gift, when it respects the dignity of the human person, but as a threat when it destroys authentic human relationships and moral growth. Pope Francis reminds us that “science and technology are wonderful products of a God-given human creativity” but must always be guided by ethical responsibility and the common good (Laudato Si’, 2015, §102, pp 75-76).
In his Message for the 57th World Communications Day, he also called on people to “speak with the heart,” stressing that digital communication should be a means for truth, compassion and authentic human encounter, not for isolation or hostility (Francis, 2023).
Children are some of the most vulnerable in society. Catholic Social Teaching recognises that parents are the primary educators of their children, and that society and governments have a duty to provide environments conducive to their comprehensive development (Catechism of the Catholic Church, §§2221–2231). Thus protecting children from harmful digital influences is not simply a technological question but a moral imperative grounded in the dignity of the person.
But a total ban may not be the best way forward for India. Enforcement is particularly challenging due to the country’s wide socio-cultural diversity, digital inequalities and emerging data protection systems. Furthermore, without promoting digital responsibility, access bans may simply push youth to seek unregulated online spaces. A more balanced approach would be to responsibly regulate, educate and engage families. Practical steps to respect both children’s safety and their legitimate opportunities for learning and communication include strengthening age-verification systems, promoting digital literacy in schools, encouraging parental involvement, and holding technology companies accountable. For a long time Catholic tradition has taught us that prudence is a virtue, that is, the wisdom to choose what leads to true human flourishing. Rather than debate whether children should be allowed or forbidden to use social media, we must ask whether our digital culture helps them to grow in truth, virtue, healthy relationships and responsible freedom.
Australia’s legislation has highlighted a major global concern. This initiative can be a learning exercise for India, not so much in terms of replicating this program in its entirety, but in formulating policies that protect the interests of children while respecting the social realities of the country. As Catholics, we are called to foster a digital environment in which technology serves humanity, families are the primary protectors of children’s well-being, and every young person is equipped to use digital media wisely and responsibly.
———————-
Dr Abhishek Prasad PhD. is an Assistant Professor of Psychology, Christ University
References
Catechism of the Catholic Church. (1997). Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Francis. (2015). Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. Vatican Publishing House.
Francis. (2023). Message for the 57th World Communications Day: Speaking with the Heart.
Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2020). A systematic review: The influence of social media on depression, anxiety and psychological distress in adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 79–93.
Odgers, C. L., & Jensen, M. R. (2020). Annual Research Review: Adolescent mental health in the digital age. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(3), 336–348.
——