I am sure you have seen the media coverage regarding the fact that, from mid-December, Australian children under 16 will no longer be allowed to hold accounts on certain social media platforms. The age restrictions are likely to apply to Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, among other platforms. Online gaming and standalone messaging apps are among a number of types of services that have been excluded.

It’s not a ban. It’s a delay to having accounts.

Being logged into an account increases the likelihood that under-16s will be exposed to pressures and risks that can be hard to deal with. For example, the pressure to respond to a stream of notifications and alerts, and the risk of exposure to content that can harm their health and wellbeing. We see the detrimental effects of this all too frequently in the school environment. Delaying account access until 16 can give young people more time to build digital literacy, critical reasoning, impulse control and greater resilience.

It’s important that as parents and carers we support our children by talking openly about these age restrictions, considering how they currently use social media and how they may be impacted by this new law.

The eSafety Commissioner will be providing plenty of information and guidance over the coming months as we all prepare for this change. You can visit their website for more details and to check out their tips on what you can do now to help your family prepare.

eSafety Commissioner - information on the social media ban

If you would like to discuss or seek support with anything to do with your child’s access to social media, you are very welcome to contact the school to speak with a member of our Wellbeing Team.

God bless
Angela Myles