Recent findings from the University of South Australia reveal a significant surge, over 200%, in social media usage among children and teenagers since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers conducted an extensive study, tracking more than 14,000 students aged between 11 and 14 in South Australia from 2019 to 2022.

According to Dumuid, supporting the wellbeing of young people requires encouraging them to shift their focus back to real-world activities, which can enhance skills, confidence, and social connections.

Engaging in sports, arts, and various extracurricular activities, she notes, often leads to better academic performance, a stronger sense of self, enhanced social abilities, and improved mental health.

Dumuid highlights that the overwhelming presence of social media can pose developmental challenges for adolescents.

She mentioned that the upcoming social media restrictions are designed as a protective measure for children.

“When access is restricted, children may shift to alternative platforms like gaming, messaging apps or TV. Tracking these behavioural shifts and examining their short- and long-term impacts on young people’s health and wellbeing will be important as we move beyond the ban.”