Pressure is mounting on the Government to regulate social media ads to protect children amid fears they are being targeted with gambling, alcohol and images of unrealistic bodies.
Teens as young as 14 were being fed at least one gambling, six alcohol and 24 junk food ads online each day, a new report from Deakin University has found.
Many of the ads had interactive features, prompting the teens to install a gambling program or “learn more” about alcoholic drinks.
Children as young as eight — who searched online for things like scooter tricks and games — were also “bombarded” with up to 13 junk food ads a day.
“The marketing is sophisticated, using the data they have on young people including how they are feeling, what they are doing, and what they like and dislike,” report author Professor Kathryn Backholer said.
Alliance for Gambling Reform interim CEO Martin Thomas said the research revealed the “predatory and systematic approach” used to try to get young people hooked on gambling.
“This report provides evidence that the gambling industry is deliberately targeting kids and encouraging them to click and install gambling apps on their phones, and we believe this is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
“Governments need to take action now to protect kids and young people online.”
![Marilyn Bromberg is an Associate Professor at the UWA Law School, chair of the legislative reform sub-group at the Butterfly Foundation and a practising lawyer.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/cdc0467d00f4dfcfecd28f52ae2eceb3c9c7e88d.jpg)
The fresh research comes after the Butterfly Foundation, a leading eating disorder advocacy group, met with politicians to push for “comprehensive legal reforms” targeted at creating “healthier online spaces” for youths.
UWA associate professor Marilyn Bromberg – who chairs the legislative reform sub-group at the Butterfly Foundation – presented the recommendations to Independent MP Zoe Daniel in Canberra.
“On social media, people present the images of themselves that they think are best, but they’re often modified and aren’t real life … many people compare themselves to the image, and when they don’t match up, this can affect their body image negatively,” Professor Bromberg said.
“We want laws that require social media advertisements to feature diverse physical appearances … because, based on evidence, we know that when people see diverse physical appearances, it’s good for their body image.
“We also want the Online Safety Act … so that if someone sees images that could potentially contribute to eating disorders, they’re able to report it to the eSafety Commissioner, who can issue takedown notices.”
Other recommendations include giving users the power to reset their social media algorithms on demand and prohibiting access to beauty filters for people under 18.
New research from Swinburne University found more than 60 per cent of Australians teenagers, aged between 12 and 18 said social media made them “dissatisfied” with their body, whilst 80 per cent said social media needed to “do more” to help young people with their body image.
“Social media is ridiculously (and) insufficiently unregulated … not enough government funding and attention goes to prevention because so much is reactive,” Professor Bromberg said.
![Independent MP Zoe Daniel.](https://timesofsydney.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/bc5aeedee825b0b23f1d472edca315e48d1d0e88.jpg)
Ms Daniel has promised to present the foundation’s recommendations to the Government via the Parliamentary Friends of Eating Disorder Awareness Group.
“I think that the really positive thing about their recommendations is that they pose solutions and pragmatic actions that can be taken at a legislative, regulatory and positive level to make a difference,” she told The West Australian.