The proposed Social Media Ban: Staying informed

What do we know about the proposed social media ban? Who’s affected, when might it happen and how will it work? Let’s break it down and explore what you can do about this tricky issue.

  

 

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Social media is always a lively topic of discussion. There’s no doubt that for many of us, social media has become integrated into our daily lives. It provides us with laughs, inspiration, connection, but it also comes with some of the tougher stuff like bullying or content we might not have wanted to see. 

The Federal Government’s proposed ban may come as a relief for many parents/carers who have been concerned about the impact of social media on their children and young people.  

However as a young person you may be feeling upset, worried, or angry about these proposed changes. You might also have a lot of questions about how it will all work. On this page, we’ve put together everything you need to know and how you can support yourself or your friends if this discussion and issue is having an impact. 

 

What are the facts? Social media ban FAQs

Please note: the conversation around the social media ban is evolving and this page will be updated to reflect new updates as they are available.

What is being proposed? 

The Government is proposing that people under the age of 16 will not be able to sign up for social media accounts. To do so will be against the law.

Why are they doing this? 

The Government have said they are introducing the ban due to their concerns about the negative impact of social media on young people, in particular on their mental health and wellbeing. 

Who does the ban apply to? 

The proposed legislation will apply to people under the age of 16 years in Australia at the time the legislation comes into effect. 

When will it happen? 

We aren’t sure yet, but it will be at least a year away from when the legislation is passed. So, if Parliament passes legislation to ban social media in November 2024, for example, the ban itself won’t come into effect until after December 2025. 

Can’t I just get my parent’s consent? 

No, the Government’s proposal is that parents (or other guardians) can’t give their consent for their young people to access social media before they are 16 years of age. 

If I already have an account, will I be kicked off? 

Even if you already have accounts, after the ban come into effect, anyone under 16 will not be allowed on certain social media platforms.  

What platforms are being banned?

While the specifics are still being confirmed, the ban is expected to impact most of the major platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X. 

What are these exemptions I hear about? 

The Government has said that ‘education and health’ services (like headspace, Kids Helpline and Google Classroom) will be exempt, as well as messaging apps and online gaming services. YouTube will still also be accessible, because users can watch videos without first creating an account. However, the full list of exempted platforms is yet to be confirmed.  

How will they enforce it? 

Hate to say it…but again, this isn’t entirely clear at the moment. At a minimum the platforms will have to use some form of age verification. There are a lot of age verification trials and discussions happening but not one clear approach. The government has said that they want the responsibility to sit with the platforms and not young people and families…but we’re not sure what that means or how it will work yet.  

When the ban is in place, will there be a consequence if I lie about my age? 

We understand that it may be tempting to try and find ways around the ban and keep your current social media access. We don’t, however, encourage anyone to lie about their age. Saying you are over the age of 16 can expose you to adult content that can cause harm.

The government has stated that there will not be any punishments for young people or their parents if they break the law by using social media under the age of 16. The responsibility will be on the social media platforms to make sure they follow the rules. 

 

Helpful terms and definitions

You may have heard the strange term ‘grandfather clauses’ – this mean that if there is a change to a law or rule that comes into an already existing situation, that rule doesn’t apply retrospectively, only to new cases. So, for example, if you were already on a social media platform and this law came into effect and you are under 16 years of age, you wouldn’t be banned, only those people under 16 who wanted to join up after the change to the law.

BUT – the Government has announced that there will be no ‘grandfathering’ for the social media ban.

The National Cabinet is a group made up of the Prime Minster (Anthony Albanese) and the leaders of each Australian state and territory. It is used to help governments work together on important issues that affect the whole country, such as the proposed social media ban. They meet online or in person to make decisions and plan actions on shared priorities.  

A bill, sometimes referred to as “The Bill”, is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. Bills are presented (or ‘introduced’) to Parliament, where they are read, discussed and debated. Once Parliament passes a bill (when a majority of both the House of Representatives and the Senate supports the bill), and the Governor-General gives the Royal Assent, the bill becomes an Act of Parliament, and is then referred to as legislation.  

Once an Act has Royal Assent, it may come into force immediately, or may only come into effect on a specific date. For the proposed social media legislation, Government has announced an intended 12-month delay.  

Parliament uses Acts (or legislation) to set laws using broad principles or rules – such as that under 16 year olds will be banned from social media.  

Under an Act, Parliament can also give a Minister the power to make more detailed rules, known as regulations. Regulations can provide more detail on how to implement the law and can be changed or updated more easily than legislation.  

For the social media ban, this could include giving a Minister the power to make regulations that set out which social media services are exempt from the ban, and to update this over time. 

The eSafety Commissioner heads up an organisation called the eSafety Commission which is the Australian Government agency that is dedicated to keeping people safer online. The boss of this agency is the Commissioner. The eSafety Commission produce information and training on how to keep safe online for children, young people and adults, as well as having legislative powers though the Online Safety Act 2021. This act gives eSafety substantial powers to protect all Australians across most online platforms and forums where people can experience abuse or be exposed to harmful content. 

The eSafety Commission is one of the places you can report harmful or illegal content. For more information on the Commission, to learn more about online safety or how to report harmful content, you can go to the eSafety Commission's resource page for young people.

 

 

 

Helpful ways to prepare for the social media ban

Coping with a change like this can feel overwhelming. It can be helpful to remember the things you can do now to help you feel one step ahead. 

First – remember we will likely have at least one year before any proposed ban will come into place…so there will be time to prepare. 

 

Use a trusted source to stay informed 

With lots of media coverage and chatter about this topic, it’s helpful to pick a trusted media outlet or commentator who can keep you informed with the right information.

Develop ways to connect on other platforms or in person 

If you know that the changes will affect how you connect with your friends and family, it can be helpful to think about ways you can connect to your friends and family outside of social media. Consider chat platforms, or catching up in person, or even calling or messaging someone on your phone. Finding a balance now can help you for when the changes occur. headspace also hosts weekly online group chats for young people, you can check them out here.

Focus on the positives 

While this is a tricky time, think about how this change can potentially benefit you. For example, less time on social media may free up time to start something new or give you more time to spend time on other face to face activities and connections. 

Help seeking

We know that social media can be a helpful place to seek support for yourself or others in your life. While access to these platforms is changing, the support services for you and your mates are still here. Become familiar with the websites and numbers that might work for you.  
Here are some we recommend…(add in links to usual supports)

 

Get involved and share your voice

It can help to be a part of the conversation through participation in discussions or forums about the changes. Keep a look out for opportunities to get involved in discussions about how the ban will work. 
 
Staying proactive and connected with your community can help you feel empowered and make a positive impact during times of change. You can do this by writing to your local political leaders or joining a youth or community group. 

How can I help a friend or sibling who is worried about the social media ban?

Talk about it: Talking about the challenges, worries and even the benefits of this change can be helpful. Sharing thoughts and feelings is helpful to stay connected and supported during this time. Ask questions like, “ How have you been feeling about this?” 

Be a good listener: Be aware that everyone can manage change a little differently. Respecting thoughts and feelings when they are different to your own can be tricky, but it’s important to show empathy and understanding. You can do this by being curious and not jumping to problem solving. 

Share ideas and resources: Kind and curious conversations can lead to sharing of ideas and resources. When we listen deeply to understand our loved one's thoughts and concerns, we can often offer supports and ideas that can be helpful. 

Check in regularly: When your friends are finding it hard to accept, it’s important to be supportive and check in regularly. Small actions like sending a text, can be helpful and reminds others they are not alone.  

 

More helpful resources

 

 

The  headspace Content Reference Group oversee and approve clinical resources made available on this website.  

This page was last updated 21 November 2024.