Jay Olson

In this discussion, Jay Olson, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto specializing in smartphone impacts on youth, examines Australia’s bold new law banning social media for under-16s. He explores the challenges of age verification and circumventions like VPNs. Jay emphasizes the mental health risks children face online, including anxiety and depression, while acknowledging social media’s positive aspects. He advocates for combined regulation and family involvement to effectively manage smartphone use, urging countries to experiment with such policies.