Social Media Age Limits: The Case For

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1. 01Social Media Age Limits: The Case For

   Good afternoon, everyone. Many children today get a smartphone before they turn twelve. Today, I'll argue that governments should set a clear minimum age for social media and make companies follow it.

   大家午安。現在很多孩子在滿十二歲之前就有了智慧型手機。今天我要主張的是：政府應該為社群媒體訂出明確的最低年齡，並且要求公司確實遵守。

2. 02The Current Rules Don't Work

   First, most platforms already say users must be at least thirteen. But in reality, anyone can type a fake birthday. A rule that nobody checks is not really a rule.

   第一，大部分平台本來就規定使用者至少要滿十三歲。但實際上，任何人都可以輸入假的生日。一條沒有人檢查的規則，根本稱不上是規則。

3. 03Designed to Keep Us Scrolling

   Second, many apps are designed to keep users scrolling for as long as possible. Adults find this hard to resist, and it can be even harder for young teenagers.

   第二，很多App的設計，就是要讓使用者盡可能一直滑下去。連大人都很難抗拒，對年紀較小的青少年來說可能更難。

4. 04Pressure Too Early

   Third, social media can bring pressure that young people are not ready for, such as constant comparison and online bullying. A few extra years can make a big difference.

   第三，社群媒體可能帶來年輕人還沒準備好面對的壓力，像是沒完沒了的比較和網路霸凌。多等個幾年，可能就會有很大的差別。

5. 05Some Countries Are Acting

   Some countries are already taking action. In 2024, Australia passed a law to keep children under sixteen off major social media platforms. Other countries are watching closely.

   有些國家已經開始行動了。2024年，澳洲通過了一項法律，禁止未滿十六歲的兒童使用主要的社群媒體平台。其他國家也在密切關注。

   Source: Australian Government (2024)

6. 06How It Could Work

   To make it work, companies should use real age checks, and parents should get simple tools to manage their children's accounts.

   要讓這件事真正落實，公司應該採用真正的年齡驗證，家長也應該要有簡單的工具來管理孩子的帳號。

7. 07My Position

   My position is this: young teenagers deserve time to grow up before they enter the world of social media.

   我的立場是：年紀較小的青少年在踏入社群媒體的世界之前，應該要有時間好好長大。

8. 08Conclusion

   In conclusion, social media isn't going away, and that's fine. But childhood only happens once. Let's protect it. Thank you.

   總結來說，社群媒體不會消失，這也沒關係。但童年只有一次。讓我們好好保護它。謝謝大家。