I talked with Dr. Samantha Marsh from the University of Auckland. We discussed the B416 campaign, which advocates for the New Zealand government to enact legislation requiring social media agencies to implement age verification on their platforms. We discussed her research, social media, its risks and harms for young people, and what she believes needs to be done to address it. Her research focuses on child and youth health and well-being and how stressful home environments and the parent-child relationship can impact health-related decisions, particularly in the context of risk and uncertainty. In 2023, Samantha joined the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, where she works closely with the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC). Samanth also undertakes research and advocates for the safe use of technology in youth, focusing on the impact of social media on youth mental health.
📉Rising Mental Health Issues: There's a significant increase in anxiety, depression, and self-harm among teens since the advent of social media.
👶Impact on Child Development: Samantha Marsh emphasizes the need to study social media's effects on child development more closely.
📱Widespread Social Media Use: 90% of teenagers in New Zealand use social media, beginning at an average age of 11.
🚫Ineffective Parental Controls: The Nebraska vs. TikTok case shows companies know these measures are ineffective yet promote them anyway.
🏛️Need for Policy Change: There's a call for integrated policies to address the multifaceted issues of social media usage among minors.