Australia's Social Media Ban - Supporting Teens

In December 2025, Australia will introduce a social media ban for under-16s. Learn why it’s happening, what it means for families, and how to support your teen through the change.

What is the Social Media Ban for Under-16s?

Whether you agree with it or not — the new social media ban for under-16s is happening.

From 10 December 2025, any website or app designed primarily for people to communicate — such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook — must take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from creating or using accounts.

This change is part of the government’s response to growing concerns about online harms, cyberbullying, and mental health impacts linked to social media use among young people.

Why Did the Government Introduce This Ban?

Many parents ask: “Isn’t it a parent’s job to decide how much social media their child can use?”

The short answer is — yes, but it’s complicated.

Parents today face a digital double bind. On one hand, they want to protect their children from the risks of social media — on the other, saying “no” can lead to conflict, exclusion, or resentment as teens seek connection and independence.

The government’s move is designed to relieve some of this pressure from families and place accountability back on platforms, which profit from young users while exposing them to harmful content.

The Real Harms of Social Media for Young People

Research from the eSafety Commissioner’s “Keeping Kids Safe Online” survey (2025) highlights just how common harmful experiences have become for young Australians aged 10–17:

• 47% have seen offensive or sexist content about girls or women

• 46% have seen dangerous online challenges

• 44% have seen content encouraging unhealthy eating or exercise habits

• 32% have seen sexual images or videos

• 22% have seen real-life violence

• 19% have seen content promoting self-harm or suicide

• 1 in 2 have experienced cyberbullying

These numbers are confronting — especially for younger users who may not yet have the emotional regulation or resilience to process such content.

Children identifying as transgender or gender-diverse are particularly vulnerable, with 81% reporting experiences of cyberbullying. Girls also face higher rates of online harassment (56%) than boys.

Understanding What This Means for Your Teen

This change doesn’t mean young people will have no access to the internet — but it does mean they won’t be able to create or use personal accounts on major social media platforms like:

• Facebook

• Instagram

• TikTok

• Snapchat

• X (formerly Twitter)

• YouTube (logged-in accounts only)

They’ll still be able to access public content (e.g., YouTube videos without an account), but will lose interactive features like posting, commenting, or private messaging.

It’s important to note that the responsibility lies with social media companies, not young people. Platforms face fines of up to $49.5 million if they fail to take reasonable steps to enforce the ban.

How to Support Your Teen Through the Social Media Ban

As a parent or caregiver, you can help your teen adapt and stay connected in healthy ways:

1. Have open conversations. Frame the ban as a delay, not a punishment. Reassure your teen that this is about safety — not control — and that they’ll have opportunities to use social media when they’re older and more equipped to handle it.

2. Download and preserve memories. Accounts belonging to under-16s will be deleted, not just deactivated. Encourage your child to save photos, videos, and chats they want to keep before December 10.

3. Help them stay connected. Discuss alternative ways to connect — messaging apps for family use, video calls, or shared activities offline.

4. Stay informed. Keep up to date through the eSafety Commissioner’s website for updates on how the ban will be implemented and what platforms are affected.

5. Model balanced technology use. Young people learn by example — showing healthy online habits and boundaries helps them build resilience and self-control.

Final Thoughts

This ban might feel like a challenge, but it also offers an opportunity — a pause to reflect on how we want our children to grow up online. By staying calm, informed, and connected, parents can help their children navigate this change with understanding and confidence.

For more information or psychological support for your family, visit Next2You Psychology — we’re here to help young people thrive both online and offline.

Why You Should Stop Asking "Am I a Good Parent?"

Do you find yourself thinking "Am I a good parent"? Is 'parent guilt' weighing you down—that sense that you should be doing more, being more, or getting it right all the time?

Here’s some good news: your child doesn’t need you to be perfect. In fact, research shows that it’s our imperfect moments—the times we miss the mark—that help our children develop trust, emotional regulation, and resilience.

What the Research Has Shown

One of the most famous studies on parent–child relationships is the Still Face Experiment, conducted by American psychologist Edward Tronick. In the experiment, a mother interacts warmly with her baby, then suddenly stops responding—keeping a still, neutral expression.

The baby quickly becomes distressed, trying everything to re-engage the mother—crying, reaching, making sounds. When the mother resumes responding, the baby calms and reconnects.

Tronick’s research found that caregivers and infants are mismatched around 70% of the time—and that’s perfectly normal. The important part is what happens next: the repair. When the mother reattunes and reconnects, the child learns that relationships can recover after disconnection. This is how trust, attachment, and emotional resilience are built.

Why Imperfect Parenting Helps Kids Thrive

So, what does this mean for you as a parent?

It means that those moments when you lose patience, misread your child’s cues, or feel disconnected aren’t failures—they’re opportunities. Every time you notice what’s happened and repair the moment (“I’m sorry I got frustrated; let’s try again”), you’re helping your child learn that mistakes are okay and that love remains steady.

Over time, this helps children learn to:

• Bounce back from stress (resilience)

• Understand others’ feelings (empathy)

• Trust relationships even after conflict

So next time you think "am I a good parent" remember, it's not about being "good", "good enough" is all your child needs.

A Message from Next2You Psychology

At Next2You Psychology, we understand that parenting can be both rewarding and overwhelming. Our team supports parents and families to build emotional wellbeing, strengthen relationships, and approach parenting with compassion rather than guilt.

💬 If you’d like to explore how to strengthen connection and compassion in your family, we’re here to help. Make an appointment today.

Do Kids or Teens Self Harm For Attention?

Self-harming is when someone deliberately causes physical injury to themselves. This might include cutting, burning, skin-picking, hitting themselves, or taking an overdose of medication or substances.

For many parents and grandparents, seeing a young person hurt themselves can be deeply distressing. It’s natural to wonder why this is happening — and some might question whether it’s just “attention-seeking” or “the latest trend.”

However, it’s well-established that self-harm is not simply attention-seeking. In most cases, young people who self-harm are struggling with intense emotional pain and don’t know how else to express or manage it. Many hide their injuries and feel shame or guilt afterwards.

So Why Self Harm?

Every young person’s experience is different, but self-harming often serves a purpose — even if it’s not a healthy one. Common reasons include:

• To express overwhelming emotions that feel too hard to put into words

• To release tension or experience a brief sense of relief

• To feel something physical when feeling emotionally numb or empty

• To regain a sense of control when life feels chaotic

While self-harming may temporarily ease distress, the relief doesn’t last — and the underlying emotional pain remains. Over time, it can become a habit that’s difficult to stop.

How You Can Help Your Teen

If your teen or young adult is self-harming, the most helpful thing you can do is approach them with care, patience, and curiosity.

Try to:

• Listen without judgment or criticism

• Ask gentle, open-ended questions like “How have you been feeling lately?”

• Acknowledge their feelings rather than minimising them

• Avoid punishments, threats, or guilt, which can increase shame and secrecy

Remember, your young person isn’t doing this to hurt or manipulate you — they’re trying to cope with feelings that feel unmanageable.

When to Seek Professional Help

Self-harm can lead to physical complications such as infection or serious injury, and the emotional distress that drives it can worsen without support.

A Psychologist or Counsellor can help your teen or young adult:

• Understand the emotions behind their self-harm

• Build emotional regulation and coping skills

• Learn safer ways to express pain and manage stress

At Next2You Psychology, we work with young people and families across Brisbane and Australia to improve coping and emotion regulation skills.

💬 If you’re concerned about your teen or young adult, contact us at Next 2YouPsychology to find out how we can help.