School’s out and so are 10 social media platforms for Aussie kids under 16. As we roll into the summer school holidays, families are facing an unprecedented digital shake-up, which some experts warn could lead to drug-like withdrawals for many teens.
The federal government’s world-first ban on social media access for under-16s affects 10 major platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and Kick.
In the lead-up to the December 10 deadline, there had been great uncertainty about how and when hundreds-of-thousands of underage accounts would be switched off. At the time of this magazine going to print, YouTube, Reddit, Kick and X had not revealed how they would comply with the ban.
Accredited mental health social worker and owner of Reminded Health (Peregian) Sally Harvey says young people are really concerned they’ll not only lose access to their accounts but that they’ll be deleted and all content, contacts and photos that they’ve been building for several years will be lost.
“For many, this has become a record of their lives and it will feel like a loss to lose access,” she says.
She adds that the lack of information around how companies will roll out the ban has young people worried, with many hoping their accounts will be paused and able to be reactivated when they can prove they’ve turned 16.
The responsibility for enforcing the ban rests with the platforms themselves, or they risk fines of up to $50,000.
YouTube has criticised the government’s ‘rushed’ laws, arguing the ban would not make children safer. The company has confirmed it will comply but says under-16s will still be able to watch content while signed out.
Communications Minister Anika Wells hit back at the tech giant’s grumblings at a National Press Club recently.
“I find it outright weird that YouTube reminds us it is not safe and has inappropriate content for kids. That is a problem YouTube needs to fix,” Ms Wells says.
“With one law, we can protect generation alpha from being sucked into purgatory by predatory algorithms, described by the man who created the feature as ‘behavioural cocaine’.”
Research from the Queensland University of Technology’s Digital Media Research Centre shows teens already feel unsupported as they attempt to leave platforms. Many say adults only focused on harms, not the connections they built.
Ms Harvey has worked with young people for two decades and is also a mum to teenagers. She agrees teens actually find social media a positive experience and are not scared of the harms in the way adults assume.
She also acknowledges the risks – from online bullying to inappropriate content – but says it will be important for parents to validate the loss, not dismiss it.
“My kids are all over 16, except my son who is 14, who we made wait until he was 14 to access social media platforms,” Ms Harvey says.
“He uses social media lightly, to connect with friends at other schools and distant family members, to which they have been swapping phone numbers so they can still text and phone each other.
“He also hasn’t been on there long enough to miss it much and hasn’t got a lot of content he is worried about being deleted. If one of my daughters was under 16, that would be a bigger issue, as she would have had a large body of content on her social media platforms.”
Author, counsellor and founder of youth drop-in centre Lookout 07 at Warana, Dr Leon Stensholm is an advocate for social media but warns the ban highlights a bigger problem. He has seen more than 15,000 young people come through his centre and is expecting an influx of youth these school holidays.
“What happens when we take away their social media?” he asks.
“That’s what kills their time. And we don’t have places for them to go.”
He warns that while the ban aims to reduce harm, many teens with autism, learning difficulties or social anxiety rely on online communication as their safe mode of connection.
“It’s not as simple as cutting one thing and everything being rosy. There will be side effects,” he says.
Dr Stensholm’s new book We Got Wi-Fi But No Connection (published December 2025 by Bermingham Books) explores the growing emotional disconnection facing young people today, despite living in a world saturated with digital connectivity.
Drawing on more than a decade of youth work and the first-hand experiences of countless struggling kids – anxious, isolated, depressed, suicidal or acting out as a silent cry for help – the book uncovers the deeper issues behind their behaviour and the gaps in the support systems meant to protect them. It offers parents, carers, educators and professionals practical guidance, real-life stories and clear strategies for rebuilding connection, nurturing resilience and becoming more attentive, understanding and emotionally present for the teenagers in their lives.
Dr Stensholm admits the first weeks of the ban will be tough for teens.
“As parents, we can’t just say, ‘You’ll be right’. We gave them the iPads when they were five. We created this world. And now we’ve taken the candy from the baby.”
He urges parents to be patient, expect mood swings and listen more.
“Kids don’t feel accepted. They feel judged. If there’s ever a time to really listen, now is the time,” he says.
Ms Harvey says teens fear losing valued online friendships: that they’ll lose contact with friends they don’t see in person. She recommends organising offline catch-ups, planning activities and keeping a watch-out for withdrawal, sadness and hopelessness.
As Australia enters this world-first experiment, both these local experts say the real impacts, good or bad, will take time to emerge.
“There’s extensive research being done in terms of the impacts the ban has, positive and negative, on young people,” Ms Harvey notes.
“It will be interesting to see if mental health stats improve in this age group.
“I hope they do, as they need to.”
Dr Stensholm expects a rocky start.
“There’s going to be backlash,” he says.
“But if parents and kids meet in the middle, we might come out of this more connected than before.”
For more guidance, explore the tools and support available at esafety.gov.au. Mental health resources: Lifeline 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25). To purchase Dr Stensholm’s book, visit bodyandmindbyleon.com.au.
A change for good?
For many parents, managing screen time, content and access has long been a challenge.
One Sunshine Coast high school guidance counsellor sees the social media ban as a change for good, offering an ideal chance to hit the reset button and rethink family digital habits. So, what can parents do right now?
- Do a family screen audit. Have everyone review their habits and commit to reducing overall screen time together.
- Talk openly about the changes. Lead with empathy, explain the reasons behind the new rules and help teens understand the potential harms.
- Plan fun alternatives. Swap scrolling for sport, board games, new hobbies, beach days, bush walks, climbing Mt Coolum, surf club nippers, fishing or barbecue boats on the Noosa River.
- Encourage creative outlets. If social media once fuelled creativity, explore photography, filmmaking, blogging, drama, journalling, painting, knitting, building or volunteering.
- Find new ways to stay connected. Prioritise calls, texts and face-to-face catch-ups over screen-based communication.
Breaking the habit
(mostly) screen-free holiday activities
From no cost to low-to-moderate expense, the Coast has a smorgasbord of activities geared towards teens.
- Tackle the courses at Next Level High Ropes or get the adrenaline pumping at Rush Adventureland.
- Hike nature trails at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Glass House Mountains (such as the Tibrogargan Circuit) or Tinbeerwah for amazing views.
- Take surf lessons, learn to paddle board, or kayak with dolphins.
- ‘Risk’ heart-stopping fun at Aussie World and The Big Kart Track.
- Discover marine life, including little blue penguins, at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast.
- Explore a ZOG augmented reality rainforest trail, train rides and treats at The Ginger Factory.
- Go bowling, play mini-golf and arcade games at The Big Top Shopping Centre.
And finally, if your teen is still in need of a ‘tech hit’, enrol them in one of 18 workshops offered throughout January at Peregian Digital Hub. Visit peregianhub.com.au/learn.
