Introducing 36 Months, A Movement for Healthy Teen Development
Rising social media use has been linked to mental health issues, cyberbullying, anxiety, depression, self-harm and even suicide in Australian teenagers.
Research1 highlights the impact social media can have during the critical phase of psychological development, especially the 36 months between ages 13-16. 36 Months, which is supported by News Corp Australia and NOVA Entertainment, aims to change legislation to delay social media citizenship for teenagers until they reach the age of 16, safeguarding their developmental journey.
Data shows social media is used by:
- 92% of Australian teens aged 15-16 years
- 59% aged 11-12
- 29% aged 9-10
Research2, commissioned by News Corp Australia, surveyed over 3000 social media users, including teenagers, and found:
- 70% of Aussie teens have had a negative experience on social media
- 1 in 3 teens being exposed to disturbing or traumatic content
- 1 in 4 being cyberbullied or harassed
- 1 in 10 having been a victim of revenge porn
Father-of-three, Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, 44, says, “Families I speak with across Australia daily reveal serious, grave concerns for their teenagers due to the effects of social media.
“We’re raising an anxious generation. We want our kids to discover themselves, before the world discovers them.
“36 Months strives to create a supportive platform for teenagers to cultivate a secure identity and navigate the digital landscape with resilience and mindfulness.
“The initial phase of 36 Months’ campaign is calling for Federal policy change to delay social media access for teenagers until they reach the age of 16, safeguarding their developmental journey.”
Rob Galluzzo is the executive producer and CEO of award winning film production company, FINCH. A visionary leader, he’s also a youth advocate and pioneer in social change.
Among his many accolades, he co-founded The Lion's Share, the UN initiative to protect the lives of endangered animals worldwide, of which Sir David Attenborough was Ambassador.
He’s on the board of directors for The Liv Project, a non-profit organisation for the prevention of youth suicide, and his documentary, My Sister Liv, revealed the realities of stigma and struggles of mental health, and the devastating aftermath after a death by suicide.
“As parents, we want to give our kids the best shot at becoming resilient and independent adults,” says father-of-two Rob.
“The prevalent issue of excessive social media use contributing to heightened anxiety among teenagers is a growing concern for many parents and educators.
“The aim of 36 Months is to provide a safer environment where kids can foster a secure identity and healthy emotional development by raising the threshold of social media citizenship.”
Research from the University of Sydney reveals Australians aged 14+ spend an average of six hours a week on social media, and the eSafety Commissioner's Digital Lives of Aussie Kids reports, 12–13-year-olds use an average of 3.1 social media services.
Wippa and Rob have recruited key figures across entertainment, education and politics to the 36 Months cause. These include author and parenting expert Maggie Dent, The Hon. Dominic Perrottet, former premier of NSW and member for Epping, and media personality Hamish Blake.
Wippa says 36 Months is a movement every Australian can get behind to protect our teens, explaining, “We’re already in talks with major policymakers identifying the steps needed to change the official entry age for kids starting their own social media accounts.”
Stage 2 of 36 Months is aimed at offering families and educators ideas and initiatives that enables them to better connect with teens.
Maggie Dent says, “While tech companies continue to make profits off social media despite the strong evidence of the harm they are causing, we need a collective effort to protect our kids and a ban is one step that can help.”
The Hon. Dominic Perrottet, former premier of NSW and member for Epping, says, “36 Months is the beginning of a crucial movement in prioritising the wellbeing of our adolescents.
“By advocating for a policy shift to delay social media access until the age of 16, we are taking a significant step towards safeguarding the mental and emotional development of our youth – now and in the future."
Call to action To drive momentum, 36 Months is calling on families, community leaders and educators to sign the 36 Months change.org petition that will be taken to parliament.
1raisingchildren.net.au 2022
2Survey conducted by Dynata on behalf of News Corp with over 3000 social media users, April 2023
