Ban social media or smartphones for under 16s?

Stuff reports:

ACT leader David Seymour is pondering introducing a ban on children having their own smartphones.

The National Party is trying to ban kids from social media, but its coalition partners – including ACT – have indicated they won’t support that move. Instead, Seymour is now suggesting a different ban to solve the issue.

In a somewhat surprising turn for the ACT leader, which Seymour noted during a speech on Wednesday evening, he suggested a ban on children having smartphones.

“Parliament could pass a law defining what constitutes a ‘dumb phone’ suitable for a person under 16. Prohibit the purchase, possession, and supply of smartphones for under-16s,” Seymour suggested, during a speech to youth development charity, the Graeme Dingle Foundation.

He stressed this idea was not ACT Party, or Government, policy. “To be clear, I don’t even know if the Government trying to ban smartphones for under-16s is a good idea,” he said.

Keeping under 16s off social media is a good aspiration. The social media ban is challenging though, as to be effective it would require every adult to use photo ID to register with social media.

The alternative of simply banning smartphones for under 16s is worth considering. However social media can also be accessed on tablets and computers, so they are not a substitute for each other.