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Preparing for Change – Australia’s Social Media Restrictions – Jennifer Oaten

Teenage girl not allowed to access social media

How many hours do you spend on social media a week? And how many hours do your children spend on social media? Many children are spending 2-3 hours per day which is approximately 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month. And that figure is conservative for many young people. No wonder it is having such an impact on their lives and our world.

As parents, we have all witnessed the profound impact social media has had on our children’s lives. Some changes have been positive: connection with friends, creative expression, and access to communities of support. Yet increasingly, we have also seen the shadows: the anxiety, the sleepless nights, the online conflicts, and the constant comparisons that steal joy from young hearts.

Australia’s new legislation, requiring social media platforms to restrict access for users under 16 from December 2025, represents a watershed moment for families. This is not just another rule change; it is an opportunity to reset our children’s relationship with technology and reclaim aspects of childhood that have been gradually eroding.

Understanding the Why Behind the Change

The evidence supporting this legislation is compelling and, frankly, concerning. Recent World Health Organization data shows that problematic social media use among adolescents has increased from 7% in 2018 to 11% in 2022, with girls experiencing higher rates (13%) than boys (9%).

Closer to home, Australian research paints a similar picture. The Black Dog Institute’s Future Proofing Study, our nation’s largest longitudinal study on youth mental health, found that 93% of young Australians use social media at least once daily, spending an average of 2-3 hours per day on these platforms. The eSafety Commissioner’s recent research revealed that 96% of children aged 10 to 15 have used at least one social media platform, with 70% encountering content associated with harm, including misogynistic material, dangerous challenges, and content promoting disordered eating.

But statistics only tell part of the story. As educators, we see the daily reality; students unable to concentrate after late-night scrolling sessions, friendship groups fractured by online drama, and young people measuring their worth in likes and follows. We see bright, capable students paralysed by social anxiety that research directly links to online experiences, with 37% of cyberbullied students developing social anxiety and 36% falling into depression.

Perhaps most heartbreaking is watching students lose the ability to simply be, to sit with their thoughts, to daydream, to experience boredom as a gateway to creativity rather than reaching reflexively for their phones.

The Challenge of Taking Something Away

Let us acknowledge the elephant in the room. Removing something our children already have is infinitely harder than never giving it in the first place. Many of our young people have built their social identities around their online presence. For them, social media is not just an app; it is their primary social venue, their creative outlet, their connection to the wider world.

As one Year 9 student recently told me, “social media is where my friends are.” And she is right. This generation has grown up in a digital world we adults entered as visitors. We must approach this transition with empathy and understanding, not dismissal of their very real sense of loss.

Let us be realistic, enforcing this legislation will not be straightforward. The government and eSafety Commissioner are still developing the technical details of age verification, with trials currently underway to test various methods. We know tech-savvy teens may attempt workarounds using VPNs, fake accounts, or other methods to circumvent restrictions.

This is why parental engagement remains crucial. The law provides a framework, but it cannot replace active parenting. We must continue conversations about digital citizenship, monitor our children’s online activities, and maintain open dialogue about their digital experiences. Think of the legislation as a support structure for families, not a complete solution. The real work of guiding our children through the digital world remains with us as parents and educators.

Teenage daughter upset with mum as she wont let her have social media.

Address the Real Needs Social Media Meets

Understanding why your child uses social media is crucial. Are they:

  • Seeking connection:  Facilitate more in-person social opportunities
  • Looking for validation:  Increase positive affirmation at home
  • Bored: Help them discover engaging offline activities
  • Anxious when disconnected:  This might indicate problematic use requiring professional support

It is important to recognise that social media has brought genuine benefits to many young people, access to educational content, creative communities where they can share their art and music, connections with like-minded peers who share niche interests, and platforms for social awareness and positive change. The goal is not to demonise technology but to ensure our children are developmentally ready to navigate its complexities safely.

A Roadmap for Parents

Start the Conversation Now

Do not wait until December 2025 to address this change. Begin age-appropriate discussions about why these restrictions are being implemented. Focus on the protection aspect rather than punishment. Help your children understand that just as we have age restrictions for driving, voting, and other activities, this is about ensuring they are developmentally ready for the complexities of social media.

Gradual Transition, Not Sudden Removal

Consider implementing a stepped approach over the coming months,

  • Phase 1 (Now to September): Establish device-free times during meals and homework. Start small; even 30 minutes of disconnection can feel challenging initially.
  • Phase 2 (September to October): Introduce ‘phone parking’ hours where devices are placed in a central location. Begin exploring offline activities together.
  • Phase 3 (October to November): Gradually reduce social media time. Help your child identify which platforms they use for genuine connection versus mindless scrolling.
  • Phase 4 (December 2025): Support the transition to approved platforms and strengthen real-world connections.

Navigating Resistance with Compassion

Expect pushback. Expect “everyone else is still on it.” Expect “you are ruining my life.” These responses are normal and valid expressions of frustration. Here is how to respond,

  • Acknowledge their feelings: “I understand you are upset. This is a big change.”
  • Stay consistent: “The law applies to everyone under 16. This is not our rule, but we support it because we love you.”
  • Offer alternatives: “Let us find other ways to stay connected with your friends.”
  • Share the bigger picture: “This is temporary. When you are 16, you will have the maturity to navigate these platforms more safely.”

When the Transition Feels Too Hard

Let me be honest with you. I know some of you are reading this thinking, “This is impossible. My 15-year-old will make our lives unbearable. It is easier to just let them keep their accounts.” I understand. I truly do. The thought of daily battles, slammed doors, and a sullen teenager who barely speaks to you is daunting, especially when you are already juggling work, family responsibilities, and your own challenges.

If you find yourself unable to fully enforce these restrictions, particularly with 14 and 15-year-olds who have been on social media for years, you are not alone. The reality is that some families will quietly allow their teens to maintain their accounts, hoping to avoid conflict. While I encourage you to try implementing the restrictions, I also recognise that every family’s situation is unique.

If complete removal feels impossible right now, consider what you can do,

  • Set firm time boundaries, even if you cannot remove access entirely
  • Insist on knowing passwords and having access to their accounts
  • Implement ‘phone-free’ hours each day, starting with just one hour
  • Move devices out of bedrooms at night
  • Use parental controls to limit access to certain times
  • Have regular check-ins about what they are seeing and experiencing online

Remember, any reduction in social media use is beneficial. A 50% decrease is better than no change at all. Start where you can, even if it is just ensuring phones are off during dinner or homework time. Small victories can build momentum for bigger changes.

Please know that Santa Maria College is here to support you. If you are struggling with implementation, reach out to our pastoral care team. We can provide strategies specific to your situation, connect you with other parents facing similar challenges, and support your child through the transition at school even if home enforcement is difficult. You do not have to do this alone.

The Hidden Opportunities

The worst thing we can do is remove social media without helping our children find meaningful alternatives. Consider filling the void before it exists.

  • Reignite old interests: What did your child love before screens dominated? Art? Sport? Music? Outdoors?
  • Facilitate face-to-face connections: Host gatherings, encourage sleepovers, support their participation in clubs and teams
  • Model engagement: Put down your own phone. Show them that adults can find joy and connection offline
  • Explore together: Take up a new activity as a family, cooking, art,  hiking, board games, golf.

While the focus is often on what we are taking away, consider what our children might gain,

Stronger family connections: More present, engaged time together

Supporting Different Needs

We must acknowledge that some young people have found vital support through social media, particularly those with disabilities or those in regional areas. Australian research from ReachOut found that 73% of young people use social media for mental health support, with more than half using it in place of seeing a professional. For these students,

  • Research local support groups and communities
  • Ensure access to helplines and approved communication platforms
  • Connect with school counsellors about alternative support networks
  • Remember that messaging apps like WhatsApp will remain available
Together we can - quote

A United Front

At Santa Maria College, we are committed to supporting families through this transition. We are,

  • Reviewing our digital citizenship curriculum to address the changing landscape
  • Providing parent education sessions on managing the transition
  • Ensuring our pastoral care team is equipped to support students who struggle
  • Creating additional opportunities for offline connection and engagement
  • Seek support early if your child is struggling

Looking Forward with Hope

This legislation represents a circuit breaker, a chance to pause and reconsider how technology serves our children rather than enslaves them. It is an opportunity to reclaim aspects of childhood that have been increasingly compressed, the freedom to make mistakes without permanent documentation, the joy of living in the moment without performing it, the peace of being unreachable sometimes.

Yes, December 2025 will bring challenges. There will be tears, arguments, and moments of doubt. But there will also be rediscovery of talents and hobbies previously abandoned, friendships deepened, and family connections strengthened.

Our children are remarkably resilient and adaptable. With preparation, support, and understanding, they will navigate this change. And perhaps, in years to come, they will thank us for giving them back something precious, the freedom to be young without the weight of constant digital performance.

As we prepare for this transition together, remember, we are not taking away their world; we are helping them discover a bigger one.

A Final Thought

Change is never easy, especially when it affects something so central to our children’s daily lives. But as we stand on the threshold of this significant shift in how young Australians engage with social media, we have a unique opportunity to be intentional about the childhood we want to preserve and the future we want to create.

This legislation is not the end of our children’s digital journey, it is a pause that allows us to ensure they are equipped with the wisdom, resilience, and skills of evaluation they need to navigate an increasingly complex online world.

Trust in your ability as parents to guide your children through this transition. Trust in their capacity to adapt and grow.

And remember that sometimes the greatest gift we can give our young people is not unlimited access to everything, but the space to discover who they are without the constant noise of digital comparison. The path ahead may be uncertain, but we walk it together, as families, as a school community, and as a society committed to nurturing healthy, happy, and whole human beings.

Resources for Parents

  • Australia social media restrictions, eSafety for children, Featured, Parental support for social media transition, Parenting digital wellbeing, Preparing kids for online changes, School community digital citizenship, Social media age limits 2025, Teen social media use, Youth mental health and technology

Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation.  Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world.  Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD.  We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.

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