1 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: Hello, Welcome to the Happy Families Podcast. December tenth, twenty 2 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:12,120 Speaker 1: twenty five. Today's today that the social media minimum age 3 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: legislation kicks off. It's rolling out, it's happening as of 4 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,280 Speaker 1: Well now, I'm sure there's going to be some teething errors. 5 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: I'm sure that there's going to be some challenges and parents, no, 6 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: you do not get to abrogate your responsibility to keep 7 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,520 Speaker 1: your kids living a healthy life and away from screens 8 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: as much as you can. But today on the podcast, 9 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: we're going to do something different. Kylie's going to role 10 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:35,320 Speaker 1: play missus. Happy Families is not going to be my 11 00:00:35,400 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: wife and co host. Actually you are, you always are. 12 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,279 Speaker 1: But Kylie, today you're going to play the role of reporter, 13 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:44,279 Speaker 1: intrepid reporter because. 14 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 2: Because the real reporter didn't want to talk to your 15 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 2: second time round. 16 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: Well, it's not that the real reporter didn't want to 17 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 1: talk to me, it's that they weren't given permission. So 18 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: to cut along story really short, I was interviewed by 19 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: a reporter from a news organization that we shall not 20 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: name right now because that could get them in trouble. 21 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:05,039 Speaker 1: And the interview questions were so good, like so good 22 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 1: and I loved the interview so much, and I said, well, 23 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: you know that was great. I wonder if I wonder 24 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: if you could interview me again and I could record 25 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: it for the podcast. And they went away and asked 26 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,960 Speaker 1: the boss and the boss said no. So therefore, because 27 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: we've got the questions, Kylie's going to pretend to be 28 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: that reporter and we're going to do a reenactment. Except Kylie, 29 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,479 Speaker 1: knowing you, you're gonna have a bit to say. You're 30 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:24,959 Speaker 1: not just going to ask questions, so maybe you will. 31 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 2: I don't know, Well, what's my stage name. 32 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:29,559 Speaker 1: I'm not allowed to say. We're just going to say 33 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: Kylie the intrepid reporter for her. So we're going to 34 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: go through this wonderful interview. I'm sure I've forgotten most 35 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: of my answers, but it was a great interview, and 36 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: I'll come off with some are the ones right after this. Hello, 37 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: and welcome to the Happy Family podcast Real Parenting Solutions. 38 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: Every single day on Australia's most downloaded parenting podcast, we 39 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: are Justin and Kylie Coulson. But today Kylie is playing 40 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: the role of the intrepid reporter who has a bunch 41 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: of questions for me about the Social Media Minner major 42 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: legislation which kicks off today right around the country. Let's 43 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: not waste any time, intrepid reporter Kylie, what is the 44 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: first question? Let's make this interview happen. 45 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:14,920 Speaker 2: Well, thank you for joining me today, Doctor Justin. Today's 46 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 2: a really big date for parents out there as they 47 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 2: deal with some pretty big emotions, I would say, with 48 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 2: the rollout of the social media band for under sixteen. 49 00:02:24,960 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: So we're technically calling it the social Media minim major 50 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: legislation limits. 51 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 3: But that's howful, isn't it. 52 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,680 Speaker 2: So I've got some really important questions for you, and 53 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:35,679 Speaker 2: I know that parents are eaching to find out what 54 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 2: you've got to say about them. 55 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 3: Can't wait? 56 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 2: How are parents feeling about the upcoming social media band? 57 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 2: Do you think? 58 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 3: Well, you've got kids, can I ask? How do you 59 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 3: feel about it? 60 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 2: Oh? I'm so excited? 61 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: Why because and by the way, I did this to 62 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 1: the reporter, like I love turning questions back on reporters. 63 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 2: But anyway, go ahead, because at this point there's only 64 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 2: one child in our house that it impacts. But it 65 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: just allows her to reconnect in positive ways, even if 66 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 2: it's only for a short time. But she's actually taken 67 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: it on. 68 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: Board really well, yeah, at this point she has very much. 69 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:16,959 Speaker 1: So my position is pretty much as follows. Parents that 70 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 1: I've been speaking to around the country consistently have been saying, 71 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: oh my goodness, thank goodness, we are so grateful we 72 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 1: need this social media ban. There are obviously some who 73 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:26,519 Speaker 1: think that it's silly. There are some who don't really 74 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: care and think that it's a bit meh, a bit 75 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: nah whatever, But generally speaking, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. 76 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: Parents are struggling with kids and their screens, particularly the 77 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,280 Speaker 1: social media side of things, And just to be really 78 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: clear about it, kids can still access content that's on 79 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: social media if it's publicly available, Like they can jump 80 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: onto an internet browser and look up at TikTok about 81 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: whatever thing they're interested in, and they will be able 82 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: to find it if it's publicly available. But what they 83 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: can't do is they can't have a social media account, 84 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: and they can't be followed by an algorithm and have 85 00:03:56,120 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: ongoing suggested content directed and targeted at them because of 86 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: who they are, because of what they've clicked on, what 87 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: they've liked, what they've shared, what they've commented on. 88 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 2: And I would assume because they don't have their own profile. 89 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 2: In spite of the fact that they can access content 90 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 2: that's publicly available, they can't comment. 91 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 1: I'm not sure about commenting or not. We'll have to 92 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: see if our daughter can do that later today. But 93 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: this is the critical thing where we're trusting, and this 94 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:25,520 Speaker 1: is a hard thing to do with social media companies. 95 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: A big tech is just not trustworthy. But we're trusting 96 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: that there's not something going on in the background where 97 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,520 Speaker 1: kids are still being monitored, certainly without account, without an account. 98 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: This should be a good thing, and parents generally are 99 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 1: feeling really really positive about this social media minimum age legislation. 100 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 2: I am curious how you think the kids are feeling 101 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 2: about this. 102 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: I've spoken with a number of adolescents over the last 103 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:49,280 Speaker 1: couple of months about it. Some of them think that 104 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 1: it's ridiculous. There's a whole lot that are arguing, oh, 105 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: we're just going to get a VPN. For those who 106 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: are not familiar VPNs virtual private network that's a way 107 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: of hiding where your router is and being able to 108 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 1: get access to content from overseas, or pretend that you're 109 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: in a that you're not from my conversations with Julie 110 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: Inman Grant, Australia's c E Safety Commissioner. Technology is going 111 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:11,480 Speaker 1: to be implemented sufficient to stop VPNs and fake profiles 112 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: and fake IDs and other things working. So it's going 113 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: to take a very, very very motivated teenager to get 114 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: around the technology at this point. While there are some 115 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:24,839 Speaker 1: kids that are really upset about it, and there are 116 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: some who are legitimately disadvantage, like there are some kids 117 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: who are running businesses on social media and this is 118 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 1: going to be hard for them, But generally speaking, most 119 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 1: kids are fine with it, and some are actually excited, 120 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: Like there are some kids that I've spoken to are like, yeah, 121 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,160 Speaker 1: this is a problem and I need the help and 122 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 1: this is going to stop me from being online. 123 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 2: Do you think it's tricky timing for families given that 124 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: school has just finished and we're heading into the holidays. 125 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, So when the reporter asked me this question, sorry 126 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: you are the reporter. Of course in this role. 127 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 3: Play, you're not very good at roll. I'm so sorry. Yeah, 128 00:05:58,440 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 3: I was kind. 129 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 2: Of like when I said, the boss of this, now, 130 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 2: when is the right time? 131 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 1: My response was, is when is the right time for this? 132 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: Like you could argue that it's cerebral timing because school 133 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: Holidays is just starting. But you could also if you 134 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: did it during the school year, like the start of 135 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: term one, or I don't know, the start of term 136 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: or midterm. At no point is this going to be 137 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: easy or lacking in complexity. I actually think at a 138 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 1: personal level that this is great timing. Kids are not 139 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: at school, they're not reliant on their devices. I wouldn't 140 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 1: think the same way that they would be otherwise. They've 141 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: now got a whole lot of free time where we 142 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: can say to them things like go outside and play, 143 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 1: or no, you don't need that screen, and no, there's 144 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: nothing for you to look at anyway. This is the 145 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 1: time where kids get to be creative, they get to 146 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: get outside, they get to use their bodies. And I 147 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 1: think school Holidays is the perfect time to roll it 148 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: out so that kids can get used to it before 149 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:56,719 Speaker 1: school comes back. 150 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 3: I like it. I like it a lot. 151 00:06:58,160 --> 00:06:59,359 Speaker 2: Am I allowed to have an opinion? 152 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: Well, you can say whatever you like. You're running this show. Apparently, 153 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: I think. 154 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:05,920 Speaker 2: It's great too. 155 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 3: Yeah. 156 00:07:06,440 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 2: I think it's great because, like you've already acknowledged that, 157 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 2: it gives there's time for kids to kind of navigate 158 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 2: life in a new space without added complication. But I 159 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 2: also think they've got time on their side. 160 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: So they can get their friends around now and just 161 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: get face to face. 162 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 2: They've got time on their side, And I feel like 163 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 2: for those kids who are motivated, I think it's actually 164 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 2: going to be hugely successful. For the kids that aren't motivated, 165 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: it could be a little bit more challenging, But I 166 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: think that if parents engage, there's actually a really awesome opportunity. 167 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, so parent engagement's going to be huge around this, 168 00:07:44,360 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: and for me, that's the key thing. It's also worth highlighting. 169 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: Parents don't get to abbrogate the responsibility here and say, oh, well, 170 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: now that the social media a major legislation is in, 171 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 1: I don't need to talk to my kids about screens. 172 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: We've still got a lot going on here that really 173 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,600 Speaker 1: does matter, and I don't think that we can even 174 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: for a moment, pretend that that this is just going 175 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: to go away, screens will cease to be an issue. 176 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: This is a first step and it's important, but there's 177 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: a lot more to do Before you ask the next question. 178 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 3: We need to take a quick break. 179 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: But after the break, the Big four questions about how 180 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 1: this minimum age social media legislation affects families. 181 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 3: We're back. 182 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,559 Speaker 1: This is the Happy Family's podcast. My name's doctor Justin Coulson, 183 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: and today I'm being interviewed in the absence of a 184 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: reporter who was not allowed to be on the podcast 185 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: to ask these questions. I'm being interviewed by missus Happy Families, 186 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: who wants to know what the reporter wanted to know. 187 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 1: What's the next question. 188 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 2: Well, you've already acknowledged that you have only one child 189 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 2: who will be navigating the social media ban. I'm interested 190 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 2: to know how you're navigating it with her. 191 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:56,120 Speaker 1: So we've had quite a number of conversations. She told 192 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: us that all of her friends were going to get VPNs. 193 00:08:57,880 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: They were going to be sneaky. They thought it was stupid, 194 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:02,160 Speaker 1: They hate it, And we asked her how she felt, 195 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 1: and slowly but surely, over the last little while, she's 196 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: been reducing her. 197 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 3: Access to platforms. 198 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: She deleted one platform, then a few weeks later she 199 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: deleted the next platform. She's been using them a little 200 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: bit less, and we've just been talking to her about 201 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: why this matters. And I don't think that it's been 202 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: nearly enough I'm not satisfied at all with the with 203 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 1: the way that she's done it. I would have loved 204 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: to have seen her do more. But at the end 205 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: of the day, it's going to happen. It's futile for 206 00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: her to fight against it. And as of today, she 207 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: doesn't have access to social media. So yeah, it's kind 208 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: of it's futile and now it's happening. 209 00:09:41,160 --> 00:09:44,199 Speaker 2: What do we do if, like we mentioned earlier, we've 210 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 2: got teenagers who are less motivated, how do we ensure 211 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 2: that they don't feel isolated. 212 00:09:51,559 --> 00:09:55,199 Speaker 1: There's this argument that there are disadvantaged kids or minority 213 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: kids who get support and help because they're allowed to 214 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: have access to social media. There are two things that 215 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:02,320 Speaker 1: I want to say about that. First of all, if 216 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 1: you look closely at the research, that's not necessarily the case. 217 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: It might be in unique circumstances, but generally, if for 218 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: kids having a hard time offline because of their minority 219 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,200 Speaker 1: status or because of their group status, for whatever reason, 220 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 1: when they go online, they tend to Yes, they might 221 00:10:17,480 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: find some people who can be supportive, but they tend 222 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 1: to get a pretty hard time on. 223 00:10:20,679 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 3: Life as well. 224 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 2: To say, yeah, it kind of aligns pretty well with 225 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 2: real life. 226 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:28,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, being online is not a safer place generally speaking. 227 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 3: It's worse. 228 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: Even for people who have challenging backgrounds and who are 229 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: looking for support online, it's very, very hard to get 230 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:37,439 Speaker 1: that support. Once they get the community, it can be helpful, 231 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: but it's also reinforcing and doesn't necessarily help them to 232 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: learn to navigate real life effectively, which has lots of downsides. 233 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: Second thing to highlight is just this whole social media argument. 234 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm in a couple of group chats, and 235 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: because I've gotten rid of social media myself, I've asked 236 00:10:55,000 --> 00:10:58,120 Speaker 1: if we can move those group chats from Facebook Messenger 237 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,160 Speaker 1: to WhatsApp, and somebody said, well, it's a difference. And 238 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: the difference for me is when I'm on WhatsApp, it's 239 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 1: just social conversation. It's literally us talking in our group chat, 240 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,880 Speaker 1: Whereas when you're on Facebook and you check your Messenger, 241 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 1: the algorithm also reaches out to you and pulls you 242 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: back into the main side of Facebook, and then you 243 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: get caught up in the algorithm. It's got its tentacles 244 00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: into you. And this is the central point that I 245 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,840 Speaker 1: want to make in terms of isolation being on social media. 246 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: Is isolating Facebook. Recently, we're involved in an anti trust 247 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,320 Speaker 1: trial in the United States. For those who are not 248 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,920 Speaker 1: familiar with anti trust, it's basically about breaking up monopolies. 249 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: And in the anti trust trial, Facebook made the argument 250 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,679 Speaker 1: that between eighty and ninety percent of interaction on their 251 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 1: platform now is not social. Rather, it's people who don't 252 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: know each other, watching short form video slash TV content 253 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: and commenting, liking, and sharing. So we're not really following 254 00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: our friends, we're not really engaging with our friends, and 255 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 1: social media has literally become not social media but short 256 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: form television or short form video media. And the algorithm 257 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: is so addictive that it's causing harm to our kids 258 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: and it's taken them away from real life. So the 259 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: services this is from the eesafety dot gov dot AU website. 260 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 1: The services that e safety considers will be age restricted 261 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:27,839 Speaker 1: include Facebook, Instagram, kick, Reddit, Snapchat, threads, TikTok, twitch x 262 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: formerly Twitter, and YouTube, but it doesn't include discord, getthub, Google, Classroom, Lego, play, Messenger, Pinterest, roadblocks, 263 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 1: Steam and steam Chat, WhatsApp, and YouTube kids. Now, these 264 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:47,719 Speaker 1: may change as time goes on, but the thing that 265 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 1: I want to emphasize here is that the things that 266 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:59,079 Speaker 1: have stayed Discord Messenger, roadblocks and WhatsApp the main ones 267 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: that I'm going to pick on right now, and even 268 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: Pinterests who have literally reached out and said what can 269 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: we do so that we can make sure that we 270 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,440 Speaker 1: are safe for people to be on. These are mainly 271 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,200 Speaker 1: about messaging. Now there's some horrendous stuff that still gets 272 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:13,679 Speaker 1: message on these platforms. So I'm still concerned about these 273 00:13:13,679 --> 00:13:15,959 Speaker 1: platforms for our under sixteenes. I don't think they should 274 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 1: be on them, But at least there's no algorithms. At 275 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 1: least there's no addictive technology, and these ones don't foment 276 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:27,720 Speaker 1: isolation the way the big ones do that have been 277 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,239 Speaker 1: highlighted as being age restricted. 278 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,520 Speaker 2: So what are some activities that might act as a 279 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:35,599 Speaker 2: good distraction over the school holidays? 280 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:36,960 Speaker 3: I mean, like anything. 281 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:40,320 Speaker 1: When I was a kid, literally my parents didn't see 282 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,839 Speaker 1: me during the school holidays. From about the age of thirty, my. 283 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 2: Parents would say the same thing about their teenagers, except 284 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 2: in your case, you were outside, and in a lot 285 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 2: of cases our kids are actually just in their bedroom. 286 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 1: They're in the bedroom, or they're laying on the living 287 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: and floor or the rumpstrom floor playing a video game 288 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:57,800 Speaker 1: or something. When I reflect on my adolescent years, from 289 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: about the age of thirteen, I started surfing. Wh meant 290 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: that I had to ring my friends on the telephone 291 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: that was connected to the wall in the kitchen, and 292 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:06,199 Speaker 1: they had to pick up the phone on the wall 293 00:14:06,200 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: in their kitchen, and we had to say, what bus 294 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: are you catching? And then we would they caught the 295 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:12,320 Speaker 1: bus from a different bus stop to me, about fifteen 296 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: twenty minutes down the road, so hopefully they would catch 297 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: the bus, and they would often have to run because 298 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: we'd look at the timetable and go, oh my goodness, run, 299 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: And then I would go to the bus stop and 300 00:14:20,480 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: hopefully they'd be on the bus, and if they weren't, 301 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 1: I'd get off the bus and then I'd walk home 302 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: and I'd ring them. I'd say you missed the bus, 303 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: or I'd wait and hope that they were on the 304 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: next bus, and then we would go to the beach 305 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: and we would serve all day, and then we would 306 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: come home and get this. I would sit down on 307 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: a Saturday afternoon, I would watch four or five or 308 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: six hours of Wide World of Sports on Channel nine. 309 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: And that was fine. Why because I was outside for 310 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: half the day, and I was physically active, and I 311 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 1: was with my friends, and there was lots of social time, 312 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:46,840 Speaker 1: lots of face to FaceTime, and I didn't really care 313 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: and Dad didn't really care that I was getting four 314 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: or five or six hours of TV on a Saturday 315 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 1: afternoon because I was living this really full and really 316 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: active life. I'm not an anti screen, I keep on 317 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,280 Speaker 1: saying this. I'm not anti screen. I am pro living 318 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: a full, balanced, whole healthy life. And if this legislation 319 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: stops you kids from being on social media but they're 320 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,960 Speaker 1: still playing Roadblock, they're still playing Fortnite, They're still on 321 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: their screens all day, every day, and they can be, 322 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: make no mistake, they still can be, then the legislation 323 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:14,760 Speaker 1: has done nothing really. 324 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 3: So what I'm. 325 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:17,320 Speaker 1: Interested in when you ask the question about what shoul 326 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 1: the kids be doing, my answer is I don't care 327 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: so long as they're living a full life. If you 328 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:26,120 Speaker 1: live in a home like most Australians do, your kids 329 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: are probably going to have a bicycle. There's probably going 330 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: to be a basketball hoop somewhere. There's probably going to 331 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: be a trampoline in the backyard, or a swing set 332 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: that's going to be a park down the road, or 333 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 1: a beach, or a mountain to climb, or a skate park, 334 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: or there'll be something somewhere. So I think the most 335 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: important words that we can say to our tween and 336 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: teens across the summer now of this legislation here is 337 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:51,480 Speaker 1: go outside, but on board, I know, go outside, or 338 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: we can say, well, I mean, what would you like 339 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: me to do about your boedom? Because that's what my 340 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 1: parents used to say to me, what would you like 341 00:15:57,840 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: me to do about it? And I'd look at them 342 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: and that they were saying, it's not my problem, and 343 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: they actually couldn't do anything about my boredom. 344 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 3: My boardom was my problem. 345 00:16:06,520 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: My dad used to say, only boring people get bored, 346 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: and maybe that was marm I can't remember. So when 347 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: I think about your question, what might act as a 348 00:16:13,680 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: good distraction over the school holidays? 349 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 3: Life? 350 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 1: Life would be a good distraction from screens over the holidays. 351 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 2: Well, doctor, justin thank you so much for your time today. 352 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,320 Speaker 2: I had a few other questions, but you've already answered 353 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 2: them all, so I think we'll call it quits there. 354 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:30,480 Speaker 1: Kylie, Intrepid Reporter extraordinaire. It's been a delight to talk 355 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: with you, and thank you so much for asking that 356 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:33,800 Speaker 1: other reporter's question so that we could do this podcast 357 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: episode today. 358 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 3: I really hope that it's helpful. 359 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: Honestly, this is a good thing, but there is still 360 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: work for us to do as parents. Because kids can 361 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: still use their screens as much as you let them. 362 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: They've still got access to a lot of content online 363 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: and a lot of things that can keep them occupied 364 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: there that's not going to be in their best interests. 365 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: If you would like more information about what's going on, 366 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: check out e safety dot au. There is a social 367 00:16:56,280 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: media hub there that's really easy to find and it's 368 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,880 Speaker 1: got everything that you need to know the social media 369 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: minimum age obligation legislation, and I think you find it 370 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 1: really helpful. 371 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:06,160 Speaker 3: Willing to that in the show notes. 372 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,639 Speaker 1: The Happy Families podcast is produced by Justin Roland from 373 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:11,399 Speaker 1: Bridge Media. Mim Hammonds provides research, admin and all of 374 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: our other support and for more information about making your 375 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: family happy, please visit Happyfamilies dot com dot au.