Australia’s Teen Social Media Ban Raises Mental-Health Alarms Ahead of Holidays
GeokHub
Contributing Writer
SYDNEY — Dec 8 (GeokHub) As Australia prepares to enforce a sweeping ban on social media for users under 16 — starting December 10 — many teenagers say they fear the timing could worsen isolation and anxiety during the long summer holidays. More than a million under-16s will lose access to platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram just as schools break for a six-week festive break.
15-year-old teenager Ayris Tolson says she worries that when school’s out and social media goes dark, she’ll end up “basically isolated” — with no routine, no classmates around, and limited ways to connect with friends.
Mental-health experts echo the concern. Many youths rely on online platforms not just for social connection, but for support — especially those in remote areas or part of marginalized communities. They warn that a “cold-turkey” internet cutoff paired with the end of formal schooling could deepen loneliness, reduce access to peer support, and increase anxiety or depression risks.
Youth-help organisations are already bracing for a surge in demand. Some are increasing counselling staff and revising outreach plans to reach disconnected teens offline. But with typical summer-holiday distractions and supports paused, the coming weeks may prove particularly challenging for many young people.
The ban — touted by authorities as a safeguard against online harms such as cyberbullying, addictive algorithms, and harmful content — may carry unintended consequences, especially when social isolation converges with a break in school structure. For many families and mental-health professionals in Australia, the real test lies not just in compliance, but in the plan’s social and psychological cost.
If you enjoy our work and want to support us, you can buy us a coffee
