With the recent ban on social media in Australia with other countries expected to follow, the change has led to teens now actively shopping around for substitutes.
December 10th 2025; a rise in app downloads the very same day such as Chat GPT, WhatsApp, Google Gemini, Shein, Temu and Lemon8.
This on the day the move to ban became official.
The prior 12 months, companies were given time to comply with the pending new legislation that not only looked to prevent under 16’s aimlessly scrolling on screens for unhealthy lengths of time but also to enforce zero accounts accessible to these age groups.
If previous accounts are bound to become stagnant many young people have been left wondering if their social media accounts will still be there in a year or two?
What isn’t appreciated so early is that the new S.M restrictions will also reintroduce young people to more activity outdoors.
Additionally, who young teens believe they themselves are, shaped by perceptions through the lenses of social media, is bound to change.
Now they are set for finding out about themselves in brand new ways and in learning from in-person interactions that will assist healthy personal growth.
Something that social media actually strips away.
In about one to two weeks* with planning and support, families should see some positive reflections from the decision to ban.
It is important to remember that if we start out with a wholly negative take on the ban then it will definitely hinder the positives from being incorporated and for other wholesome activities from shifting into the void effectively.
We want to be open-minded and take time to sit down with our children to weigh up why the decision by the government has been made.
Look at the facts, discuss how too much screen times actually affects the brain, and ask our kids, is that what they want?
Do they want to forget how to read or communicate well in life?
Helping our kids to feel a measure of responsibility is a good step in assisting them to make improved decisions in the future and that whatever decisions we each make includes consequences.
We can either listen and learn or remain stubborn and ignore, but either way, the outcomes are always going to be as they are - good or bad despite how savvy kids think they are or how they are perceived in peer groups. We need to look at this realistically.
PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
Social media platforms who do not comply with the restrictions look to be charged up to $33 million USD (49.5 million AUD).
Concerns over increased pressures and risks from S.M usage has become a major factor in the decision to launch this protective legislation.
Similar propositions in Denmark consider social media not advisable for 15 and under, believing it to steal the childhood of children by demanding time otherwise spent developing healthy mental cognitive skills and the ability to read and comprehend efficiently.
The ban in Australia with France set to follow at the start of the 2026 school year, reflects the growing consensus that the design structure of social media platforms, created to actively encourage more time spent on screens through the large company computational models learning individual user patterns and formulating algorithms to ensure these same users see and respond to continual predicted output, is damaging, especially when the addiction of users coincides with them feeding off content that harms, not helps.
One step in a direction to clutch at positive change to a worldwide dilemma.
Is it enough?
Personal thoughts will of course vary, underlining the importance of individual and family education measures about social media.
Discussions based on personal safety, mental well-being, cyberbullying and self-image to name a few, are necessary to help navigate the strong feelings associated at the loss of whatever ‘life crutch’ kids have been convinced is necessary for themselves by way of their social media.
The ban initiative regulated by eSafety in Australia is aimed at protection of young people and highlights that the move should be viewed as a ‘delay’ opposed to a ‘ban’ without end.
There needs to be helpful clarity on this when informing young users about what the shift means for them.
In light of penalties for those underage who still gain access to banned S.M platforms in other ways not being monitored, such as by way of an older teenage sibling or a parent, the platforms used will be liable themselves and penalized if reasonable measures to prevent underage users has not been implemented, however in the case the underage user does so through identity theft or of-age users assisting underage persons to impersonate somebody older, then individual penalties will apply according to each social media platform’s user policies, including but not restricted to, possible lifetime ban of other user accounts.
Clearly responsibility is required by everyone in families and friends of families to ensure the transition stays within a manageable framework or more severe governmental measures might end up taking place.
The eSafety’s guiding principles take into account, ‘what is feasible now and [look to] anticipate future environments.’
Countries that introduce the same protective pathway will look to provide supportive and educational information in areas like:
Professional Learning - Educators and other Youth Workers.
Parental Controls - Navigating the Changes at Home Effectively.
Screen Time - Health Benefits of disuse and then limited use later on.
Hard-to-Have Conversations with Teens.
For instance, educators will need to assess whether they will use their own media accounts to share educational materials.
Alternative ways to correspond with both parents and students may require in person meetings to agree on solutions.
What is appropriate in countries/areas presently not under ban may be largely dictated by individuals who agree and understand the choice to restrict social media elsewhere by formulating strategies within their own homes and for their young ones.
The principles and guidelines for all youth on staying safe in this ever-advancing digital age cannot be underestimated.
Xavior Geis.
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All images credited to original sources.
*This is an estimate only. How long it takes to see solid improvements will likely depend on what support systems are in place and positive reinforcement by parents and educators.