The Federal Government ban on social media for children under 16 is expected to become law this week. Generation Z was the first to grow up in the social media ecosystem. Newsworthy asked them what they think of the new controls.

Generation Ninja is born

The Federal Government’s decision to ban social media for kids is like telling a infant they can't have dessert before dinner—suddenly, they're hoarding chocolate in their room like it's a black-market operation! When you say no, all you’re really doing is turning them into social media ninjas, sneaking around in the shadows of the internet like it’s a secret club with a password of I’m totally not on TikTok.

Forcing them underground puts them at further risk of being exposed to damaging content and exploitation by their users. Parents have been encouraging open dialogue with their kids about social media for the past 10 years and this new legislation only encourages them to stay quiet if they experience bullying online or are being harassed by strangers.

The details on how this legislation will be enforced are still being resolved but it will mean social media companies such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, Snapchat, Reddit and X are liable forfines of up to $50 million for systemic failure to prevent children using their platforms. The e-Safety Commissioner will be responsible for oversight and enforcement of the ban, that is, responsible for making sure 2.3 million children between the age of 9 and 16 aren't online. This is not realistic.

The Government would be better off focussing on social media literacy to help children think critically about the information they are consuming and equip them with the tools early on in life to manage its impact on their mental health. Understanding the relationship between a society, individuals and the media would also give them the opportunity to explore more voices within society. – DOMINIQUE LAKIS-NASH

'Arkangel' ban will brew resentment

The first episode of Black Mirror, I ever watched was “Arkangel”. It's a TV show that marries dystopic creativity with real-world technological anxieties. Parents, you can rejoice. The “Arkangel”, a brain-controlling iPad, is your dream come true. Worried about what your kids are watching? Put a filter on them so they literally can’t see it anymore! Worried you don’t know what they are seeing? Get a direct picture of what they are seeing through their very eyes with just one simple click! This iPad is a mega steal: a million child-controlling functions packaged into one small, touch-screen square. Never mind that in the end, a daughter hacks her mother to death with the iPad.

The truth is children need social media, and they’ll resent us when we take it from them. According to a 2023 National School Boards Association report, 62 per cent of students use social media for educational purposes. A 2022 study from the University of California found that 73 per cent of teenagers use social media to maintain relationships with friends and family. A 2022 survey by the Centre for Humane Technology found that 69 per cent of teens have used social media to seek support or information on mental health issues. Research by the American Academy of Paediatrics in 2023 indicates that 56 per cent of teens use social media platforms to express their creativity.

There is a fine line between protection and autonomy in our increasingly digital world. How can we keep our kids safe in a world that needs, and will always have, social media? There is reasonable safeguarding, and then there is overreach. This week the Government chose Arkangel-level overreach. – SRINIDI BASKARAN

Speaking from experience, less is better

As a Gen Z who first got an Instagram account at age 10, I feel as though my childhood would have benefitted from less exposure to social media. Once a trivial bit of fun to upload images and comment on my school friend’s posts, social media particularly those most common amongst young people, Instagram and TikTok, have morphed into a whole new thing since my time.

Now as a 21-year-old, I feel the weight of constant social media use namely on my mental health and attention span. As a frequent digital detoxer, who regularly takes breaks from social media to calm my anxiety and disconnect from the noise, I welcome the decision of the Federal government to ban children from social media.

While the ban, due to come into effect in mid-2025 raises many questions related to privacy, enforcement and exact details, it has forced me to reflect on how my childhood and teenage years likely would have benefitted from less social media use.

During my time on social media as a child I saw many things I knew nothing about (many of which I now know were inappropriate for my age), I believed things that were untrue, I had friends who were relentlessly bullied online, and I could talk to strangers who I had no way of knowing who they were. I certainly don’t blame my parents for allowing me online. At the end of the day they were brand new to social media as well.

While I certainly don’t think that no good can come from social media, I do think postponing when you are first exposed to social media can’t harm. The truth is, social media like many other things in life comes with its upsides and downsides but what social media does require is the ability to understand the complexities of the information you are being handed, which children do not possess. – RILEY KOLBE

Social media was my safe space

The Federal Government's law to ban children under 16 from social media will further isolate LGBTQIA+ youth.

Growing up gay, social media was a place where I could go to find community and relate to others at a time when I felt isolated by family. In a strict Arab-Catholic household, homosexuality was frowned upon and any form of femininity was actively discouraged.

My experience at my nun-run, conservative Catholic school was no different. Some of the faculty and many of my peers shared views similar to those of my family, fostering an environment where there were no out queer people to connect with.

It was only through social media that I was able to connect with other queer people and understand aspects of my sexuality. YouTube in particular was my prime destination, with vloggers like Tyler Oakley, Connor Franta, Ingrid Nilsen, and now pop-star Troye Sivan, helping me to come to terms with my sexuality by providing something as basic as seeing other queer people simply existing.

It was because of this connection and my experiences on social media during the formative years of my youth that I am concerned with the implications of these new restrictions. It is undeniable that closeted, LGBTQIA+ youth growing up in strict, sheltered households will only be further isolated by this ban on social media for children.

I truly don't know how my journey with my sexuality would have transpired had I been only been exposed to my family and school community. Social media spaces hold significant potential to create a sense of community not only for LGBTQIA+ youth, but for many other minority groups, and I believe, while reflecting on my own personal experiences that all others should be afforded that opportunity. – BRENDON SAAD

Where are the parents in all this?

As an educator and mentor for children and teenagers, I have witnessed firsthand the negative impacts of social media on our youngest generation of students. Anthony Albanese's talking points are all accurate: platforms like Instagram and TikTok are immeasurably affecting youths physical and mental health, parents are "worried sick", etcetera. From personal observations, the attention spans of teenagers has significantly worsened and media literacy capabilities has also taken a toll.

However, this ban is emblematic of a complete overreach of governmental powers. It is not the Government's role to parent this generation of neglected children. Parents should be the ones responsible for enforcing limits to media consumption, and ensuring online safety for their children. Politicians have no place in any Australian home but their own.

Additionally, young adults will moderate their social media intake as they mature. Personally, I deleted TikTok at 16, at the height of the pandemic after three years of non-stop usage. I acknowledged that my attention span had decreased since I began using the platform, and decided that enough was enough. Over the past four years, many of my acquaintances have followed suit in deleting or limiting their social media usages.

A blanket ban for children under 16 is not the answer. It is important for children and teenagers to learn how to navigate this online space given its prevalence in all elements of adulthood. It isn't Albanese's fault that parents are allowing their children to spend hours at a time on TikTok. If these parents are "worried sick", I suggest they get involved! Foster an open discussion about social media usages and the dangers in the online world, implement some boundaries or limits to media intake. The government can't and shouldn't do it for them. – NATASHA LAI