Starting on Wednesday 10 December 2025, Australia will enforce new laws banning children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.

These platforms are now classified as “age-restricted social media platforms”, and these platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent underage users from creating or maintaining accounts. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to $49 million dollars.

We hope the new laws (for children under 16 years of age) will help support parents being able to say no. The feedback we have collected from parents and guardians over the years, and from our SurfSafe online information sessions and educational sessions in classes at school has been overwhelmingly in favour of the social media age restrictions and keeping our kids safe online.

We are grateful for the continuing support of La Salle College families to ensure that their child does not access social media before the legal age. We urge you all to continue to educate and have open and ongoing conversations with your child around their use of social media.

To support parents in navigating the new laws around social media age restrictions, we have outlined some practical steps below:

• Talk to your child: Explain the reasons behind the law and the potential harms of early social media use – like exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and addictive behaviours (The absent child – the Anxious Generation)
• Monitor devices: Use parental controls and monitoring apps to help enforce the age restrictions and track usage.
• Encourage offline activities: Promote hobbies, sports, and face-to-face social interactions to build resilience and real-world connections.
• Follow the eSafety Commissioner: We hope the new laws (for children under 16 years of age) will help support parents being able to say no. Follow updates from the eSafety Commissioner and government sources to understand how platforms are implementing the changes.
• Model healthy habits: Demonstrate balanced tech use and open communication about online experiences.

The Anxious Generation

According to Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, the most important reason to ban social media for kids is that it has rewired childhood in a way that is causing a mental health crisis. He argues that when adolescents’ social lives moved onto smartphones and social media platforms in the early 2010s, there was a sharp and international surge in anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide among young people. Other commentary to highlight from The Anxious Generation (Jonathan Haidt):

1. Phone-Based Childhood: Children today are growing up immersed in smartphones and social media, which has replaced real-world experiences with digital ones. This shift is linked to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation—especially among girls.
2. Decline of Free Play: Outdoor play has drastically declined. This lack of physical, social, and risky play limits children’s ability to develop resilience, independence, and coping skills, contributing to increased anxiety.
3. Developmental Disruption: Digital engagement interferes with key developmental processes – like attunement, social learning, and exploration during sensitive periods. This rewiring of childhood affects how kids form relationships and regulate emotions.
4. Need for Collective Action: The book advocates for societal and parental shifts: reducing screen time, encouraging outdoor play, and rethinking parenting norms. Communities, schools, and governments must work together to restore a healthier childhood environment.

Continued education here at La Salle College: 

• Paul Litherland is a renowned cyber awareness speaker and owner of Surf Online Safe.
• On Thursday 23 October, Paul will be presenting to our Year 7, Year 9 and Year 11 students about the current dangers they could be facing when using online platforms.
• Paul emphasises that young people need to be mindful of what they are posting and sharing about themselves and should give thought to exposing themselves to danger, embarrassment and bullying.
• Paul will also be speaking to the new laws and what this means for students and families.
• Paul will also be providing a parent session in the evening on Thursday 23 October – this is free for all parents and guardians to attend. A Try booking link will be shared later this term – ensure you secure your tickets!