A parent’s guide to help teens adjust to social media age restrictions

Because social connection is central to teenagers’ wellbeing, parents can help them plan alternative ways to stay in touch. Credit: ridvan_celik/Getty Images

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Australia is restricting access to social media accounts for under-16s, and many families are wondering what it means in practice. While the rules place responsibility on tech platforms rather than young people or their parents, the changes may still create stress for teens who rely on social media to stay connected. Find out how the ban will work, why connection still matters, and how experts suggest supporting young people through the transition.

Key Points

Australia is introducing social media restrictions for young Australians under 16 years of age from 10 December 2025.
Social media platforms—not parents—are responsible for enforcing age checks.
Open conversations can help children manage the emotional impact of the changes.
Parents can support teens by planning alternative ways to stay connected and preparing for account changes.

What are the new rules and where can I find updates?
How can I talk to my child about the changes?
How can my child stay connected?
How do I support my child if they feel isolated?
What practical steps should I take before accounts close?
What do I need to do after the ban starts?

What are the new rules and where can I find updates?

Social media companies will be required to take reasonable steps to stop people under 16 from having accounts on their platforms. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Kick, Reddit, Threads, Twitch, X and YouTube are already included, and more platforms may be added.

The eSafety Commissioner, who is overseeing the introduction of the restrictions, says that the changes aim to protect under-16-year-olds from pressures and risks they can be exposed to while logged into social media accounts.

Companies are expected to use age-assurance technology to estimate a user’s age. Young people will still be able to watch publicly available content on some platforms, such as YouTube and TikTok. Source: iStockphoto / Suzi Media Production/Getty Images

Companies are expected to use age-assurance technology to estimate a user’s age. Young people will still be able to watch publicly available content on some platforms, such as YouTube and TikTok.

The responsibility falls on the platforms themselves. There are no penalties for parents or children if an under-sixteen still has an account after the start date.

You can find the platforms involved and the most up‑to‑date information on the eSafety Commissioner’s website.

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How can I talk to my child about the changes?

Although the teen social media ban begins on 10 December, experts emphasise that the most important part for families is not the rule itself—but how parents talk with their children about it. Open communication can make the transition less stressful.

Dr Catherine Page Jeffery, a senior lecturer in media and communications at the University of Sydney, says parents should begin by acknowledging how significant social media is in young people’s lives. Many teens use platforms as their primary way to talk with friends, share interests and build identity. Recognising this helps children feel heard rather than dismissed.

Mobile phone showing the number 16 and a red forbidden sign trapped between barrier tapes on yellow background. Illustration of the British consideration of banning sale of smartphones to under 16s

The responsibility falls on the platforms themselves. There are no penalties for parents or children if an under-sixteen still has an account after the start date. Source: iStockphoto / Dragon Claws/Getty Images

Parents can start the conversation by asking:

How do you feel about the upcoming changes?
What worries you the most?
What do you think might be difficult?

This creates space for honesty and helps young people feel supported rather than controlled.

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How can my child stay connected?

Because social connection is central to teenagers’ wellbeing, parents can help them plan alternative ways to stay in touch.

Options might include:

Messaging apps are not covered by the ban
More regular in-person catch-ups
Group chats on platforms are still accessible without accounts
Encouraging participation in community, cultural or school activities

For some young people—especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQ+ communities, rural areas or living with disability—online spaces offer a connection they may not easily find offline. Supporting them to build multiple avenues of connection can help reduce feelings of loss.

Asian teen and Black teen beauty bloggers having fun while sharing skincare tips during live video at home studio table with various cosmetic items, lighting, and camera setup

Social media companies will be required to take reasonable steps to stop people under 16 from having accounts on their platforms. Source: iStockphoto / Ekkasit Jokthong/Getty Images

How do I support my child if they feel isolated?

Some teens may feel upset, anxious or cut off from peers. Parents can:

Validate their emotions (“It makes sense you feel this way.”)
Remind them they’re not losing friendships—only shifting how they connect.
Help identify which peers they want to stay in touch with most.
Create opportunities for safe, supervised online spaces recommended by experts, such as Kids Helpline’s My Circle or Beyond Blue forums.

Leo Hede, a manager from Kids Helpline, also suggests building open communication and trust with your children. This means reassuring them they can come to you if something goes wrong online—without fear of getting in trouble.

Teenager ignoring his mother while using a tablet in his bedroom

Parents shouldn't be dismissive of their children's feelings. Source: iStockphoto / Antonio_Diaz/Getty Images

What practical steps should I take before accounts close?

Parents and young people can work together to prepare:

Save photos, videos, chats and online memories from existing accounts.
List the friends they want to stay in contact with and decide how to reach them
Explore alternative apps and safe online communities.
Set boundaries for device use that still allow for connection and wellbeing

Even if accounts are not immediately removed, preparing early can reduce stress.

Group of friends hanging out together in skatepark and taking selfie

Once the ban comes into effect, parents should continue talking with their children about online life. Credit: Johner Images/Getty Images/Johner RF

What do I need to do after the ban starts?

Once the ban comes into effect, parents should continue talking with their children about online life. Risks exist across the internet, not just on social media, so supporting digital wellbeing remains essential.

But even after the ban takes effect, parents do still need to be continuing the conversations with their children about online safety, about online risks, because a lot of the online risks are not just on social media.
Dr Catherine Page Jeffery, senior lecturer in media and communications at the University of Sydney.

Again, remaining engaged and ensuring ongoing trust between you and your child is crucial. You can do that by letting them know that they can always come to you and share their feelings and concerns. This is one of the most powerful forms of support during and after the transition.

Further resources on how to have conversations with your children and wellbeing resources can be found on the e-safety commissioner website.

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Transcript

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SBS acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country and their connections and continuous care for the skies, lands and waterways across Australia.

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You're listening to Australia Explained, an SBS audio podcast helping you navigate life in Australia.

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Australia's teen social media ban is about to begin, but there is still a lot of uncertainty about how it will work. The details continue to evolve, but one thing is clear: families play a central role in helping children navigate whatever comes next. So, how can you talk with young people about these changes?

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And have healthy conversations about staying connected with their peers.

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is Australia Explained, and I'm your host, Maram Ismail. In this episode, you'll learn about the upcoming changes and how experts recommend you help children prepare for the changes.

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Australia will introduce its teen social media ban on Tuesday, the 10th of December. Social media companies will be required to take reasonable steps to stop people under 16 from having accounts. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Kik, Reddit, Threads, Twitch, X, and YouTube are already included, and more platforms may be added. The responsibility falls on the platforms themselves.

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There are no penalties for parents and children if an under-16 still has an account after the start date. Companies are expected to use age assurance technology to estimate a user's age, and they must offer options beyond scanning a government ID. Young people will still be able to watch content on.

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Such as YouTube and TikTok without logging in. The e-safety commissioner, who is overseeing the introduction of the ban, says it's unlikely that all accounts for under-16s will disappear on December 10th, and it will be a gradual process, but experts say it is important to start talking to children early.

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Catherine Page Jeffrey, a senior lecturer in media and communications at the University of Sydney, explains, social

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Media is really important for young people. It's a really important way for them to connect. I think parents trying to get a better understanding of how important media and social media in particular is in young people's lives is an important first step.

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Dr Paige Jeffrey studies digital media and families. She says digital media often creates conflict.

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In Australian families, and disagreements can arise when parents don't understand how important it is in their children's lives.

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Parents really need to acknowledge the importance of social media in the lives of their children, and that having that taken away from them is not an insignificant thing. I think a lot of young people will be upset. Some may feel isolated.

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The risk of isolation is especially worrying for young people from margin.

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communities, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, young people living with a disability, young people in rural or regional areas, and LGBTQ plus young people. I

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think it's really important that parents talk to their children and make sure that they have established other ways of staying connected with peers to make sure that they are not cut off.

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Leo Hede, service manager for Kids Helpline,

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says it's important to remember that online communities can be more important for young people from marginalised communities because they may not have the same sense of connection and safety in their real world environment.

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That's an important message for us to amplify to parents, to adults, to government, wherever we can, that these communities and connections that young

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People are making have great benefit for them and that quite often they are doing it safely and that they do have confidence and competence to navigate the complexities of this and that we shouldn't underestimate them.

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eSafety provides resources on their website for parents and children, including conversation.

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and a get ready guide to help young people prepare. Other groups like schools and support services like Kids Helpline are offering their own resources as well. Mr. Heath says it's important to not be dismissive of young people's feelings.

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We then encourage parents to talk to kids about the options, how they are going to manage their wellbeing through this transition.

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What other supports might they have if they felt that they're going to lose this strong sense of connection with this person online? What else could they do to manage that? Could it be a real world connection that they could look to? Are there things that the parent could support them with to help them have those connections?

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He says the steps will differ across platforms, but talking with children about the upcoming ban can help them adjust. This might include working together to save their photos,

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videos, or other memories before their accounts are closed.

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How would you go about downloading all your favourite selfies with your friends? You've got the connections there with that particular group. Are there other ways that you might be able to replicate that in a safe space with some of the applications that are still available, or are there completely different options that you could look at to have some of that need met?

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One strategy recommended by

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Kids Helpline is giving your children a get out of jail free card.

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What we mean by that is telling your kids that if something does happen online where they do need help, that they can come to you and just tell you, and you will not react in the moment, and you will listen to them and you will help them through

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it. Mr Hede says young people often say they are worried about asking for help because they don't want to cause their problem.

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Parents' extra stress since young people are likely to try to find ways to keep using these social media platforms or new services not included, they may still experience harm online, he says. This encourages open communication without the fear of being in trouble. eSafety suggests Kids Helpline's peer-to-peer programme MyCircle and Beyond Blue forums as safer alternatives for young people to connect online.

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Paige Jeffrey says it's important to keep talking with children about their experiences online, but even

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after the ban takes effect, parents do still need to be continuing the conversations with their children about online safety.

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About online risks because a lot of the online risks are not just on social media, there are a lot of risks more broadly. So I think one of the worst things that parents can do is just now kind of disengage from having those conversations with young people.

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Thank you for listening to this episode of Australia Explained, written and produced by Veronica Lenard, hosted and mixed by me, Maram Ismail. Australia Explained managing editor is Roza Germian.

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This was an SBS audio podcast. For more Australia explained stories, visit SBS.com.au/Australiaexplained.

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Subscribe or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia. Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained@sbs.com.au.

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