What the new social media ban actually means for your kids.

The Australian government is "calling time" on social media and its impact on our kids, officially banning children younger than 16 from the platforms.

In 2021, Australian teens spent about 14 hours per week online. Spending too long on social media is associated with higher levels of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and psychological distress, according to Headspace, although causation is not proven.

Then there are the concerns about cyberbullying, sleep problems and body image issues.

The prime minister has had enough, with Anthony Albanese saying the government wanted "action to happen as soon as possible."

The House of Representatives signed off the ban proposal on Friday, November 29, following a late-night sitting of the Senate.

In a world-first crackdown, children younger than 16 will be banned from a raft of platforms, which the government says will make online environments safer for young people.

Here's everything you need to know about the social media ban and what kids actually think about it.

How will the government's social media ban work?

The new legislation makes ammendments to the Online Safety Act 2021. A new definition has been added, with an "age restricted user" being a person under age 16.

The ammendment will ban age restricted users from platforms where the "sole purpose, or a significant purpose" is to have "online social interaction", including those that "link to, or interact with" others, and where people can "post material".

Some services will be excluded, although they're yet to be confirmed.

Platforms that provide an account to an "age restricted user" could face a fine of up to $50 million unless steps are taken to prevent it.

Tech companies will not be able to collect identification such as passports and drivers licences as a single stop to prove someone's age. But they can ask for them if "alternative age assurance methods" are also provided.

An independent review of the legislation and its impact will take place within two years.

A full list of all the social media apps to be banned for kids.

Children younger than 16 will be likely banned from TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

There's no exhaustive list of what apps and sites will be affected, but those are the six the government has suggested so far.

Some platforms will escape the crackdown and instead be classified as "out-of-scope services". Exemptions will apply for health and educational services, including Messenger Kids, WhatsApp, Kids Helpline, Google Classroom and YouTube.

The ban will come into effect in a year's time, as age verification technology trials are still being carried out.

Watch: Two mums with very different opinions speak up about the social media ban for kids. Post continues after video.

How will the social media ban be enforced?

Companies that breach the minimum age obligation will face huge fines, and social media platforms will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent children younger than 16 from having accounts.

Parents will not be able to give consent for their children to use social media.

There will be a minimum lead-in period of 12 months before the ban is activated. Age verification trials are underway to determine how the ban will be enforced.

"The bill... does not provide the magic pill to resolve or eliminate every harm children face online, nor does it seek to rule out digital participation and inclusion for young people," Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said earlier.

"This is about protecting young people, not punishing or isolating them, and letting parents know we're in their corner when it comes to supporting their children's health and well-being."

But not everyone is on board with the plan.

Concerns have been raised by social media companies, individuals and human rights groups that the laws have been rushed through without proper scrutiny, with Australia the first country to implement such a ban.

The parliamentary committee found while protecting children was a legitimate aim and the ban could be capable of that, it's not clear if the measures would be a proportionate limit on their rights

The office of the eSafety Commissioner said age assurance was important but had to be part of a broader approach.

"We must also continue working to ensure online services are safe by design and to build children's digital literacy, resilience and critical reasoning skills so that when they are of age to use these services ... they are equipped for the online world," it said.

The Australian Human Rights Commission said while the ban was designed to protect children from harm, it would likely have negative human rights impacts on young people.

"Where rights are limited to protect children from online harms, any limitations must be lawful, necessary and proportionate," it said.

"If there are less restrictive options available to achieve the aim of protecting children from harm, they should be preferred over a blanket ban."

Earlier this year, Mamamia reported on the attitudes of 100 teens and tweens about social media, and this is what we discovered.

So, what do kids really think about it? Amanda Windus investigates.

As a social researcher and a mum, my world has started to overlap in ways I didn't expect.

My kids and their generation have become the centre of my curiosity. Lately, I've been following the heated debate on social media bans, and what really hits home for me is this: despite all the expert voices, one crucial set of people remain unheard…the young people who live it every day.

Their experiences matter, and I think it's time we really listen.

I recently had the chance to find out their thoughts, as Youngkind's latest study included conversations with 100 10 to 16-year-olds to get closer to their experience of growing up against a backdrop of tech and social media.

It's become clear that their perspective isn't against restrictions, but about preparing themselves for a digital world that's already shaping their future.

Young people today are growing up in a world dominated by social media, artificial intelligence, and digital landscapes. Laptops/tablets have replaced notebooks, online communities have replaced study groups. Even journalism now relies on social media for its 'news' content. It is inescapable.

There is a wisdom, that comes with our youth having access to more information at their fingertips than ever before — which I'm sure any mum can attest to the surprising knowledge and opinions that come out of kids' mouths.

They've got more mature views of the world than we sometimes give them credit for, and we've seen that play out in how they talk about social media.

While they acknowledge social media's risks to mental health, stemming from what psychologists dub "comparisonitis" and bullying, they don't believe banning specific apps is the solution. Instead, they're calling for controlled access, paired with education and guidance.

They see technology as integral to their lives, especially in how they learn and connect with the world around them. Shared interests with online communities can create acceptance and belonging, no matter where you live in the world. Limiting access, they argue, would deprive them of opportunities to learn through lived experiences and develop the digital skills needed to navigate an increasingly tech-driven world.

As one 14-year-old shared, "Social media gives you the opportunity to learn about how the world works, it helps you make connections with other people online, and helps you learn about the dangers of the online world and how to protect against them."

A 15-year-old added, "I think age restrictions are smart, but they stop kids from understanding it until they're older. Kids need to learn and be prepared for the future and oncoming consequences, so they need to know at a younger age."

Children younger than 16 will be banned from social media. Image: Getty

Empowering positive experiences of social media to kids.

Having watched older siblings navigate platforms like Instagram and TikTok, kids have learned that social media can be both empowering and harmful. While they can see both sides, many still view bans as geared towards a minority while disadvantaging those who have positive, supervised experiences.

One 13-year-old shared, "Using social media makes me feel happy because it's just a bit fun. I think it's good for my friendships as we all have it, so it makes us all feel connected."

This is especially true for those benefiting from parental supervision. A 12-year-old explained, "I think this can be a bit silly as some kids do have social media platforms monitored by their parents. And if that's the case, then that should be fine, and I feel like that's acceptable."

Watch: Does social media negatively impact teen mental health? Post continues below.

Should we ban social media for kids?

Rather than pouring all our energy into establishing and enforcing age bans, the kids seem more aligned with an active guidance. Rather than responsibility falling on tech companies — parents, schools, and government education programs all have a vital role to play. The focus should be on setting healthy boundaries, fostering self-regulation, and teaching kids how to balance their online interactions with real-life connections.

The young people we heard from emphasised the importance of transparency and communication, recognising that an environment of trust with adults is key to navigating social media safely. They value the opportunity to openly share their experiences and seek advice, especially when things go wrong online.

One 15-year-old explained, "I'd 100 per cent allow social media for kids under 16 but with restrictions and parental control."

Another noted, "If safeguards are implemented against bullying, kids could have a much better time on social media. It allows them to use it but with a trusted adult who knows what's going on if anything bad happens."

Listen to The Quicky where we talk more about the social media ban. Post continues below.

The impact of inconsistencies in parental supervision.

However, the level of supervision each child experiences often depends on how their parents approach technology, leading to inconsistencies.

Kids pointed out that supervision standards vary greatly among their friendship groups. Some parents impose stricter rules, while others take a more relaxed approach. As a 13-year-old child explained, "My parents have set rules because they're trying to protect me, but some of my friends' parents aren't strict at all."

Those with stricter parents often recognise these rules as fair, especially when they're aware of the risks. An 11-year-old kid shared, "I'm not allowed on any inappropriate apps or sites. These rules protect me from the bad stuff out there."

In other cases, some parents rely more on trust than on strict controls, with their supervision based on individual relationships with their children.

As a 13-year-old person noted, "I don't have many rules about my phone usage. My parents trust me not to spend too much time on it. I also think my unlimited screen time is mainly due to the fact that my mum doesn't know how to set up parental controls."

Some kids not only recognise but also empathise with the fact that navigating the online world can be just as challenging for adults.

One 16-year-old shared, "I think it's an appropriate step towards caution because social media can be unsafe, and you don't know what people, like kids, are scrolling through. You just don't know. And even for parents, you can't necessarily patrol or whatever because anything could come up and such."

Kids understand the difficulties their parents face. At the same time, some young people already find ways to take advantage of their parents' lack of digital literacy or outsmart parental controls.

This awareness opens the door for parents and kids to work together, learning from each other to improve digital skills and foster a closer, more supportive relationship when navigating the online world.

What should parents do?

Open communication is key.

At the heart of it, the key is keeping lines of communication open with adults.

We've already heard at the Social Media and Australia Society inquiry how a potential ban can have unintended outcomes that are worse than the status quo, with three in four young people turning to social media to support their mental health.

Many we spoke with argued that with bans, kids will find ways around them, leading to secrecy. When kids feel they have to hide their social media use, they lose the most important safety net: the ability to openly trust and share concerns with adults.

As one 14-year-old put it, "There's no way of stopping it. People can fake their age, use other people's accounts, or create fake identities. There's not really a way of stopping it at this point."

Without social media, kids may feel a void in their connections, leading to emotional or behavioural instability. "People might become erratic when they lose access to social media because they didn't realise how much it influenced their lives," one 13-year-old noted.

So, why is the need for guidance still going unmet, and why are we struggling to create a consistent, united approach to support our kids in the digital world?

Banning access before 16 and placing the responsibility on tech companies and the government may address today's concerns. However, a real challenge remains. As parents, educators, and leaders, we haven't come together to provide consistent support and digital literacy tools our kids need.

In many ways, we're grappling with technology just as much as they are, leaving us uncertain about how to effectively guide the younger generation. But for them, the stakes are much higher—the digital world isn't just a part of their lives; it's the foundation of their future.

Equipping kids with Essential Digital Skills (EDS).

As adults, we have a responsibility to lead by example, staying informed and engaged with the technologies shaping our children's futures.

It's time to rethink how we teach kids to use social media. When handled responsibly, it can be an outlet for creativity and play. Limiting access might seem like an easy fix, but if we want kids to thrive in a digital world, we need to equip them with the skills to do so safely. The real goal is to make social media a healthier, more supportive space.

Education must move beyond scare tactics and a narrow focus on privacy and safety. It should address the personal and social complexities of digital interaction. Kids need tools to protect their mental health, which is heavily impacted by comparison culture. Raising awareness and providing strategies to manage this is essential, along with equipping them with new social skills for the digital world they live in.

How to empower kids for a digital future.

When we tasked kids to help form what support they need around social media they outlined a few rules they would want others to follow.

Their guides, or social media etiquette, emphasised the need for adult oversight and reflected their awareness of privacy risks, while also highlighting the importance of fostering positive social behaviours—just like in real life.

By setting clear standards for how to behave online, they're learning to speak up or step away when things don't feel right, following the simple rule of treating others the way they want to be treated.

Here's what a positive social experience would look like in the words of our respondents: "No cyberbullying or being mean. No excluding people from chats. Be helpful by responding and making people feel heard. Don't leave people on 'read.' Parents can help us feel safe by helping us make good decisions when we don't know what to do," a 12-year-old said.

Ultimately, regardless of bans, there exists a much larger issue. Responsibility needs to be shared. Any changes to social media regulations should include a broader educational approach—driven by the government, integrated into schools, and equipping parents with the tools to guide and protect their kids. This will empower everyone to succeed in a tech-driven world.

Let's shift the conversation. Let's focus on what really matters — preparing our kids for the digital future they're already living in.

-With AAP

Amanda Windus is the founder of the research agency Youngkind. Her work is all about understanding young people and giving them a voice on the decisions shaping their future.

Feature image: Getty.