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Three months after banning social media for young people, what's happening in Australia

2026-03-08 20:31:34Lifestyle SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Three months after banning social media for young people, what's happening in Australia

Three months after Australia's social media ban for teenagers came into effect, the results are still unclear and the impacts vary widely from one family to another.

According to Caroline Thain, national clinical advisor at mental health organization Headspace, around one in ten teenagers who visit their centers have cited detention as a reason for seeking support.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cited the deletion of 4.7 million Australian accounts on major platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch as a success, but experts stress that this is only a technical indicator, not a full picture of the impact on young people.

Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has launched a long-term study that will follow more than 4,000 children and families for two years. The study includes surveys and voluntary tracking of smartphone use, as well as school and health data. The aim is to measure the impact on adolescents' well-being, mental health and online behavior.

Meanwhile, reports from schools show little change, as many of them now prohibit the use of devices during class hours.

Some teens have found ways to get around the ban. Sarai Ades, 14, says: I created new accounts on TikTok and Snapchat, and Instagram hasn't marked my account as underage yet. It was a lot easier than we thought. While Grace Guo, 14, adds: The ban has made me realize that we often rely too much on social media and that there are other ways to communicate and have fun.

Experts warn that the impact of the ban will depend on whether the teenagers' entire social circle respects the ban, and that some have found alternative ways to connect online, such as using WhatsApp, which is not part of the ban.

Thain advises governments that want to follow the Australian example to involve young people in policy development and not assume they know better than they do.

"Teenagers should be considered experts in their own lives and included in every phase of politics," she says.

Full impact results are expected later in the year, when the e-Safety organization's assessments are completed.


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