AUSTRALIA’S impending ban on social media use by children under 16 has drawn sharply varied reactions from University of the Sunshine Coast academics, who agree that while the intention is to protect young people, the path forward remains fraught with practical and ethical challenges.
Set to come into force by December 10, the legislation seeks to restrict access to platforms that experts say have contributed to rising rates of mental health issues, body image concerns and compulsive online behaviour among young Australians.
UniSC Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, Dr Joseph Scott, said the move was overdue and described social media as a powerful and harmful presence in the lives of young people. He said the evidence linking platforms to significant physical and mental health issues was overwhelming and called the ban an urgent corrective.
“For too long we have watched our kids be lured in by tantalising social media platforms purposely created to capture their attention, glue them to their screens and fuel addiction. Our young people and their developing brains do not stand a chance against these conglomerates,” Dr Scott said.
He acknowledged the ban would be difficult to enforce but said it placed Australia at the forefront of global youth safety debates.
While the public discussion has focused heavily on risks, other UniSC researchers warned the ban could create new problems.
Postdoctoral researcher in adolescent brain development, Dr Taliah Prince, said prohibition risked driving young people to fake accounts or VPNs, reducing visibility for parents and educators.
“Most Australian children already use social media despite age limits. If this ban fails, visibility may be the key to protection,” Dr Prince said. She called for privacy-respectful tools that detect signs of bullying or distress and alert trusted adults, rather than cutting young people off from platforms that can also support connection.
Dr Angela Hinz, a psychologist specialising in body image and social media, said the ban presented a rare opportunity to strengthen education around healthy digital habits.
She said young people should eventually enter online spaces with skills in self-awareness, compassion and critical thinking.
UniSC Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Dr Rachael Sharman, described the ban as an important first step in restoring a healthier developmental environment, although she said the logistics remained unclear.
UniSC Senior Lecturer in Public Relations, Dr Karen Sutherland, questioned whether the ban was workable and said thousands of platforms lay beyond government reach.
She warned that cutting off access could isolate young people experiencing cyberbullying and said broader education was essential.