Talking with your teens about the upcoming social media restrictions.
Australia is leading the way with new social media restrictions for young people, with laws set to come into effect on 10 December that will limit access to social media for those under 16 years of age.
Young people and social media
For many young people, social media is a big part of how they communicate with their friends, their daily life, and their culture. Understandably, this change has sparked a lot of discussion and emotion among teens and their parents alike.
At Raise, we see every day through our mentoring program just how important it is for young people to feel heard, supported, and understood. This shift in social media access may affect them in lots of different ways — they may be anxious about losing connections with friends, confident that things won’t change too much for them, indifferent because they think it won’t affect them, or even unaware that changes are coming.
How to support your teen
As parents and carers, it’s important to start open, supportive conversations about what’s happening. At Raise, we know young people often just need a safe space where someone listens to their experiences and helps them make sense of what’s changing.
Now is a great time to explore the topic with your child:
- Ask what they know about the upcoming law.
- Explore how they feel about it.
- Brainstorm together how they can stay socially connected without relying on social media platforms.
You don’t need to have all the answers — it’s perfectly okay to learn alongside them and explore trusted resources together.
Why the restrictions are being introduced
The goal of these new restrictions is to protect young people from design features that encourage excessive screen time or expose them to harmful content that affects their health and wellbeing. By delaying access to social media, the aim is to give young people more time to develop emotional, social, and digital skills — so that by age 16, they’re better equipped to recognise when online experiences are becoming harmful and know how to respond.
More resources
The eSafety Commissioner’s website includes helpful tools and information to support you and your child through this transition, including:
- Conversation starters for parents and carers
- Guides for young people and educators
- A Social Media Age Restrictions Hub with up-to-date information
You can visit the eSafety Commissioner website to find the latest resources and learn more about how to prepare your family for the change.
There is also a helpful video series designed to support conversations with your children about social media use.
With Raise Digital online mentoring, we’re reaching even more young people, ensuring they have the chance to be heard, valued, and supported.
If you know a young person who you think would benefit from mentoring, please reach out Raise Digital.
