By Olivia Henry, the Australian Science Media Centre

The Australian Government's social media ban for under 16s is set to come into effect next week, but experts are still divided on whether the ban will have a positive or negative overall effect on the health and wellbeing of Aussie kids.

Coming into effect on December 10, the new law will require social media sites such as Facebook Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube to take “reasonable steps” to prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts on their platforms.

The eSafety Commission has also provided a list of social platforms that will not be age-restricted. These include Discord, Github, Messenger, Pinterest, Roblox, and more.

The AusSMC has spoken to a range of experts on the potential impacts of the ban, from technology and AI, to law, digital cultures, education, child health and psychology.

From a child development perspective, many experts agree that children should be protected from the addictive nature of social media.

“Social media is training the brain to prioritise fast, reactive thinking over the deeper cognitive skills we rely on to make good decisions,” said Associate Professor Susannah Tye from the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland.

Every hour spent on social media reinforces the brain pathways that prioritise reactive, emotionally charged thinking, rather than focus, reasoning, and problem solving, and we don’t yet know the long-term consequences of this.

“That uncertainty alone should concern us,” A/Prof Tye said.

"We build the brain we’ll rely on later in life during childhood and adolescence. Prolonged social media use may be quietly reshaping the developing brain, and not in ways that help young people navigate an increasingly complex world.”

While we may not fully understand the long-term consequences of these brain-rewiring algorithms, Professor Susan Sawyer said her research shows a ban might be a helpful start.

Without the brain maturity and life experience to safely navigate these algorithms, she said, there can indeed be harmful consequences.

“Sadly, unlike other protective actions that can be taken by parents, once a child has a smartphone, no amount of ‘good parenting’ can overcome the dopamine-fuelled algorithms of big tech,” she said.

Dr Joseph Scott, a Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast, agreed, adding that social media addiction could also be hurting the physical health of young people, too.

“The evidence linking social media addiction and significant physical and mental health issues in young people is overwhelming. It paints a bleak future for our youth and calls for an urgent and significant change,” he said.

But while some experts welcome the ban for the bodies and minds of young people, others are concerned it’s a step in the wrong direction, and will isolate vulnerable minorities who seek connection.

Professor Paula Gerber from Monash University said LGBTIQA+ youth in Australia rely heavily on social media for “mental health support, connection, community building and identity development.”

“Almost three-quarters of young trans Australians report that using social media makes them feel better about themselves, and 91% of LGBTIQA+ youth in a national survey said social media helped them connect with others like them. A ban is likely to sever these crucial lifelines,” she said.

As the ban draws nearer, Prof Gerber said it is crucial that these resources become available offline – especially for young people in rural areas and other environments where they aren’t getting support.

While there are clearly risks that come with social media use, other experts, such as Griffith University’s Associate Professor Jennifer Alford, argue that the ban is too much of a blunt instrument.

They suggest young people should be learning to navigate and overcome these difficulties early, or risk being left behind as adults.

“Adults created the internet and social media platforms for profit, and the harmful content on it, and then we gave it to children like candy. Now we want to take it away from them, leaving some of them - especially those who are vulnerable and isolated - to work out how to stay connected for themselves,” she said.

“Yes, young people need to be protected from danger and we have historically taught young people how to help themselves be protected from harm – for example, ‘stranger danger’, crossing a busy road, etc,” she added.

University of Canberra Dietician Danielle Shine, who researches nutrition misinformation on social media, agreed, adding “While I applaud the intention to protect young Australians from online harms, restricting access alone won’t build the skills they need to navigate an increasingly complex digital world.”

According to these experts, along with QUT’s Professor Daniel Angus, Australia really needs to put the responsibility on the platforms that shape online environments, rather than “knee-jerk prohibition.”

Professor Angus argued that young people must be treated as “digital citizens who deserve support, opportunity, and care” rather than a problem to be contained.

For now, experts agree this new law is essentially a large-scale experiment. Governments and policymakers around the world are now looking to Australia to see the consequences unfold.

As Australia navigates this transition, experts are encouraging their parents to support their kids as they adjust to the changes.

Losing social media isn’t just about limiting dance videos on TikTok – kids are losing connections with peers, support networks and resources, political information, sports communities, and role models.

The new laws can be seen as an opportunity for parents to build trust, and start an open dialogue with their kids on this topic (and others), as psychologist Professor Marie Yap from Monash University suggested.

“Creating a safe space for your children to talk openly will strengthen your relationship and enable you to help them navigate the dynamic digital world they are growing up in," she said.

You can read the full AusSMC Expert Reaction here.

This article originally appeared in Science Deadline, a weekly newsletter from the AusSMC. You are free to republish this story, in full, with appropriate credit.

Contact: Olivia Henry

Phone: +61 8 7120 8666

Email: info@smc.org.au