WOODBURY – Australia has a new law which came into effect December 10, 2025 that states that social media isn’t allowed for ages under 16. Some of the social media apps that are banned range from TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and Threads.
Australia’s government has stated that the law is meant to reduce and protect kids under the age of 16 from negative influences from social media.
According to BBC News, the government explained, “Australia’s government said the ban would reduce the negative impact of social media’s ‘design features that encourage [young people] to spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm their health and wellbeing.’”
Some people believe that this law could really help kids and even improve their mental health. Deborah Flaherty, NHS’ library media specialist, understands that social media can create unrealistic expectations for young people and lead to jealousy or negative self worth.
“Social media just paints picture perfect worlds, which aren’t realities, and I think a lot of younger kids are not prepared to think about that,” said Flaherty. “So it winds up making them feel bad about themselves when they don’t measure up.”
Flaherty explains that age limits can be helpful. She also explains that brain development continues into the mid-twenties, which is another big reason why age limits are so important.
Other students have different opinions about age limits.
One NHS student, Armanie Sylvester, said that he believes social media should have age restrictions. Sylvester thinks the acceptable age should be 12 and up–rather than Australia’s age 16 limit.
“I don’t want to be talking to a kid on Roblox” said Sylvester when referring to communicating with younger gamers on a variety of gaming platforms. “Your kid can be on Roblox with a stranger or even if you’re on Netflix your kids can watch or be on something they shouldn’t be on”
Older people on social media should not be able to interact with younger kids or accidentally end up interacting with younger people. This is just one out of many issues with social media for young kids.
According to BBC News, research shows that “96% of children aged 10-15 used social media, and that seven out of 10 of them had been exposed to harmful content.This included misogynistic and violent material as well as content promoting eating disorders and suicide.”
This single study explains the true danger of social media and how easy it can be to access any sort of content no matter the age.
Mason Gilbert, a student from NHS also believes that social media isn’t safe for all ages.
“At some ages, it can be dangerous for younger kids’ safety,” said Gilbert. “Apps where you can talk to other people should have age restrictions. But Netflix and apps like that I don’t think it’s really necessary.”
Gilbert explains that younger kids should have some sort of limit. It can be dangerous and it’s the reason why the Australian social media ban was passed. With many unsafe things at access it just isn’t safe.
Though some apps are banned there are complaints that some apps aren’t age appropriate for kids under the age of 16. Some of these apps are Roblox, Discord, and WhatsApp.
“The government says firms must take ‘reasonable steps’ to keep kids off their platforms, and should use multiple age assurance technologies,” said BBC News. “Critics have called on the government to extend the ban to cover online gaming sites like Roblox and Discord, which are not currently included. In November 2025, Roblox said it would introduce age checks on some features.”
“I think it’s a hard thing to control,” Flaherty said, noting the many variables that make a social media ban challenging to implement. “With parental controls and oversight [as options for enforcing limits], that’s different than a 13 year old who’s able to get a hold of anything that they want to.”
