'Social' Media Is Lonely

This article was original published is a feature in the Herald Sun authored by Federal Political Journalist Jade Gailberger.

Social media is making millennial and Gen Z users more lonely and disconnected in their lives, according to new research, with nine in 10 revealing it has taken away from real-life interactions with friends, family and community.

The findings come as the Albanese government prepares to introduce legislation to ban under-16s from accessing social media. Pressure is also mounting on the tech giants to make their platforms safer for users amid serious concerns about their algorithms.

Experts will on Tuesday attend a meeting at Parliament House, hosted by Goldstein MP Zoe Daniel, to discuss the risks to Australians and our democracy.

Ms Daniel said the meeting would also discuss the European Union and UK laws which place the onus of responsibility for online safety on the digital platforms and their algorithms, not on everyday users.

"Tackling the threats posed by the power of social media algorithms can't wait," she said.

"We need to make social media safe for all Australians."

Research by the Foundation for Social Health shows the most common ages to register for a social media account were 12 and 13. Almost 25 percent of Facebook and X users report negative experiences.