The enforcement of a new regulation on December 10 mandates that social media platforms with age restrictions must implement reasonable steps to block Australian users under the age of 16 from creating new accounts or accessing existing ones.
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X (formerly known as Twitter), and YouTube fall under the category of age-restricted sites.
However, a recent study from the University of Adelaide suggests that the influence of social media on children’s mental health might be more intricate than previously thought.
Researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of the social media habits and well-being of over 100,000 Australian students from grades 4 to 12 over a period of three years.
These students were classified into groups as non-users, moderate users, or high users of social media.
For female students, the study found that non-users exhibited the highest levels of well-being in grades 4 through 6, but as they reached middle school, those who were moderate users reported the greatest well-being.
High usage was consistently linked to poor mental health among girls in general.
Among boys, the researchers found moderate users and non-users had similar wellbeing outcomes up to grade 6, but from grade 7 onwards, non-used was increasingly linked to poor mental health.
For grades 10 to 12, non-use was a bigger factor in poor mental health for boys than high usage.
Researchers said the findings showed both heavy use and social media abstinence may have risks for young people, who are at risk of social isolation.
Nonetheless, the federal government has hailed the ban as a world first and it has been noted by countries around the world, with global leaders suggesting they may enact their own version depending on how Australia’s goes.
