Debate: Social media in children and young people - time for a ban? Beyond the ban - empowering parents and schools to keep adolescents safe on social media.

Abstract

In this article, we examine Australia's landmark decision to ban social media access for children under the age of 16, set to take effect in December 2025. While the legislation aims to protect young people from the harms of social media, including its impact on mental health and wellbeing, the evidence base underpinning the ban remains inconclusive, with most studies unable to establish causality. Drawing on parallels with adolescent alcohol prevention, we argue that prohibition alone is unlikely to be effective. Instead, we advocate for a harm minimisation approach that equips young people with digital literacy, resilience, and help-seeking skills. We highlight the essential roles of parents, schools, and adolescents in fostering safer social media use and call for inclusive, co-designed education initiatives.