My tween kept asking to chat with her friends online. Now, in Australia, I can just say, 'it's against the law.'

"The number of times my 11-year-old daughter has asked to join Messenger Kids has jumped noticeably this year. I've always believed I had good grounds to refuse, but to her, it's just a way to chat with friends. What's the harm? I've tried explaining how one app can lead to others, and how dependence on digital platforms can form quickly at her age."

"I'm not a Luddite. As an editorial lead for a media and communications agency in Australia, I work with content designed for social media platforms. Technology is key to what I do, and I understand the value of it, including social media platforms. But we all know these apps are designed to be addictive and to keep users - including children - scrolling. Research increasingly shows links to declining mental health and even potential effects on brain development."

Leon Spencer is an Australian father of an 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son who creates content for social-media platforms. The new Australian ban on certain social media platforms for under-16s offers legal backing that can make it easier for parents to refuse requests for apps. Messenger Kids is not currently banned, but the legislation normalizes saying no. Spencer acknowledges the value of technology while warning that platforms are designed to be addictive and are increasingly linked to declining mental health and potential effects on brain development. He wants his children to meet friends in person or call them rather than rely on social media.

Read at Business Insider