Debate Grows Over Impact Of Australia’s Social Media Ban On Schools
Australia’s social media ban for children under the age of 16 has been closely monitored in schools since it came into effect. The regulation, adopted in December 2025, requires platforms such as Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Reddit to deactivate the accounts of users under 16 and prevent the creation of new ones. Platforms that fail to comply with the law may face heavy financial penalties.
Although many educators have welcomed the ban across the country, it is noted that its impact remains limited for now. It has been reported that some students can easily bypass the restriction by deleting the apps and logging back in through a browser. Furthermore, platforms like Roblox, Discord, and Steam, which the ban does not cover, are reportedly introducing new areas of risk. Recent studies also indicate that a significant proportion of children aged 12 to 15 who had accounts before the ban have not completely lost access to social media.
At the same time, some schools in Australia are taking even stricter measures on the issue. In particular, limiting smartphone use, reducing the number of devices in students’ hands, and encouraging the use of “retro feature phones” are helping to produce a noticeable decline in social media-related disciplinary problems. Although it is acknowledged that the ban has not created a miracle in the short term, teachers and school leaders continue to believe that, in the long run, it will help children grow up in a safer digital environment.