One December 10 the laws restricting social media access to under 16s will come into effect.
The social media platforms affected include:
Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X (Twitter) and Youtube. The ban will not preclude them seeing publicly available information, but will prevent them from creating an account.
Will my child or I be punished if they access it?
Under 16s and their parents or guardians will not be punished in any way if the teen is able to access these platforms.
How does the social media platform know my child is under 16?
Some platforms have started the process of verifying user ages. According to the e-safety commissioner, signals that may inform platforms that a user is under 16:
- how long an account has been active
- whether the account holder interacts with content targeted at children under 16
- analysis of the language level and style used by the account holder and the people they interact with
- visual checks, such as facial age analysis of the account holder’s photos and videos
- audio analysis, such as age estimation of the voice of the account holder
- activity patterns consistent with school schedules
- connections with other users who appear to be under 16
- membership in youth-focused groups, forums or communities.
They may also use location-based signals which can help work out if an account holder usually lives in Australia and could be using a VPN to pretend they are overseas:
- IP address(es)
- GPS or other location services
- device language and time settings
- a device identifier
- an Australian phone number
- app store or operating system or account settings
- photos, tags, connections, engagement or activity.
Evidence of these age and location signals is expected to trigger the age assurance process, or review of an account if it has already been checked.
What happens to my child’s account when they are detected to be under 16?
Some platforms will deactivate the account, though young people should not rely on this occurring as some platforms may delete the account completely. This is why it might be helpful to prompt your young person to download any data they want to keep that is currently stored in the social media account. It might be helpful to share this guide with them to help them feel more prepared and less panicked by the change: https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/social-media-age-restrictions/get-ready-guide
Now they can’t access social media, what now?
This is going to be a significant transition for many under 16s. Young people often feel a real sense of permanence in response to current circumstances and for many they will feel a strong sense of loss when they are no longer able to access social media. For many, it represents their sense of cultural connection with each other and the broader world of young people. It can provide a shared experience and with this change, we need to help them find new ways to tap into shared experiences. Because social media has been a mainstay in many young people’s lives for some time now, our society has shifted – supports or organisations are not there in the same way they may have been 20 years ago or as many parents may remember from their own youth. As a result, we need to be able to offer empathy and guidance around exploring alternatives. In the early stages, families may decide to schedule more family based activities as well as opportunities where their children can meet up with their friends in person or on other non age-restricted platforms. Whilst there may be many benefits to reducing a young person’s access to the broader social media world, it is helpful to be conscious that something needs to fill this void. Positive, engaging activities can help to turn them in the right direction. A recent article by Zac Seidler, clinical psychologist and global director of research for Movember, in the Sydney Morning Herald, pointed to the very real risk that (particularly young boys) fill that void with online gambling and pornography – both highly developmentally inappropriate and damaging to young people. Whilst I would go by the mantra of being “alert not alarmed”, being on the front foot before a problem begins to fester would be my no.1 recommendation as a child and adolescent psychologist. The e-safety commissioner has some excellent resources and will answer most questions young people and their families may have – I highly encourage anyone involved with young people (be it parent, guardian, educator, health professional) to explore this information further: https://www.esafety.gov.au/
If you feel that your young person is not coping with the change, it is important to reach out to get support. They might like to talk to their school counsellor, access online support such as eHeadspace or https://kidshelpline.com.au/ . You or your child may like to speak to a psychologist to help you find way forward. https://theyoungmindclinic.com/ can assist if you need us. We are only a phone call (or click) away.