Legislation on young people's social media use requires evidence-based decisions
Abstract
On Dec 10, 2025, Australia implemented its ban on social media for children younger than 16 years, after the Parliament of Australia passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 on Nov 29, 2024. Social media platforms must now introduce age–verification processes to prevent children creating accounts or keeping those they already own. It is believed that the ban will protect the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents, after a study commissioned by Australia's government found that 96% of children aged 10–15 years were users of social media, of which approximately 70% had seen harmful content, approximately 14% had experienced grooming behaviour, and more than half had experienced cybervictimisation.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Child Development and Digital Technology
Impact of Technology on Adolescents
Social Media in Health Education
Publication details
- Journal / source
- EClinicalMedicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Volume
- 92
- Pages
- 103816–103816
- Publication date
- 1 February 2026
- Language
- EN