Australian families are preparing for a significant digital shift as the government's social media ban for children under 16 takes effect on December 10. This sweeping change will impact hundreds of thousands of young Australians currently using popular platforms.
The Scale of the Change
With an estimated 150,000 underage Facebook users, 350,000 on Instagram, and 400,000 using Snapchat, the ban will affect nearly a million young Australians who will soon lose access to their accounts. The prohibition initially covers ten major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Kick, and Twitch.
However, several popular applications remain unaffected, including Discord, Roblox, Messenger, WhatsApp, YouTube Kids, and GitHub. Authorities have indicated that additional platforms could be added to the banned list in the future.
Why Communication Matters Most
Psychologist Scott Fatt emphasises that how parents approach this transition could significantly impact their children's emotional wellbeing. "If a parent comes in and says: 'well, this is just what the government says and you just have to do it,' and you're not listening and you're not empathising — it might be a really difficult transition for a young person," Fatt told 7NEWS.
He explains that for many young people, social media represents "a big part of their identity, a big part of their way of dealing with stress." Experts recommend parents clearly explain why the ban is being implemented and work collaboratively with their children to find alternative ways to meet their social needs.
Practical Steps for Families
Tech expert Val Quinn suggests reframing the conversation: "I think the message is: 'it's not a ban, it's a delay.'" Parents are encouraged to help their children:
- Download and save memories like photos and posts before accounts become inaccessible
- Find alternative ways to connect with distant friends through other forums
- Develop new hobbies and activities to replace social media use
Andrew and Cindy Young, parents of four sons aged between 10 and 16, have been proactively monitoring their children's online activities. "You can only be a few swipes away from something being really entertaining and then being detrimental," Andrew notes.
Cindy welcomes the government's intervention, joking that "We're not the bad guys anymore." With three of their boys under 16, they're planning creative alternatives to combat post-ban boredom, including outdoor activities and reading.
Enforcement and Consequences
Platforms that fail to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from using accounts face substantial penalties of up to $49.5 million. Importantly, there are no penalties for children or parents who attempt to circumvent the ban.
"Young people are not going to get in trouble," assures Fatt. "I think that's important to encourage young people to be honest with their parents about how they use the technology."
Technology companies will employ artificial intelligence to detect attempts to bypass the restrictions, analyzing user behavior patterns to identify underage users. As Quinn explains, "If they're talking to kids of a certain age, looking at content of a certain interest level. Facebook watches what you're doing and says 'no, this doesn't look like the typical behaviour of a 45 year old.'"
Even using VPNs to disguise location may not be effective, as Quinn notes markers like device types can reveal a user's Australian location.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Parents should monitor for signs that children may be struggling with the transition, including:
- Sudden mood changes, anxiety, or stress
- Increased anger or secretive behavior
- Unexplained tiredness or loss of interest in usual activities
- Declining school performance
As Australian households prepare for this seismic change in digital landscape, the success of the ban may depend as much on family communication as on technological enforcement.
