The Social Media Ban Is Coming: — Here’s How To Turn It Into a Win

In less than ten days, Australia will introduce a world-first delay on social media for under-16s. According to recent research 93% of parents support the move, yet inside many homes you can already feel the uncertainty. Teens are wondering what daily life will look like without the platforms they’ve relied on, and parents are trying to anticipate the practical and emotional fallout. These conversations carry weight because this shift touches identity, connection and routine all at once.

So let’s take a grounded look at what this change does and doesn’t alter — and how we can help young people move through it with steadiness and support.

Rather than fighting this, how can we use this as an opportunity to help our kids?

What will the ban change?

Access to major social media platforms

From December 10th, under-16s will lose access to platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Snapchat, YouTube, X (Twitter), Reddit, Kick and Twitch. Meta has already begun notifying young users to save their data and will start closing accounts from December 4th.

For some families, this will be a practical adjustment. For others, it will feel like a significant shift in daily life.

A shift in norms for preteens

For preteens who weren’t yet on social media, this change may come as a relief. It eases the pressure to “keep up,” and it levels the playing field. Suddenly, many of their peers will be in the same position — not by parental rule, but by wider cultural expectation.

Pressure on parents around socials

For parents who’ve been holding firm boundaries and hearing “but everyone else has it,” this decision brings a sense of shared responsibility. The weight is no longer carried by individual families alone.

What won’t the ban change?

The rest of the online world

Messaging apps, gaming chats, browsers, AI tools, and emerging platforms will still be accessible. Some are far less regulated than the well-known platforms being restricted e.g. Yope. And, of course, young people can still access social media through a parent’s device or a browser workaround.

While the ban is a great starting point and protects our kids from some pretty powerful algorithms, it is important to keep in mind that our kids aren’t fully covered.

Offline wellbeing — unless we guide it

Less time on social media doesn’t automatically translate into meaningful offline experiences. Young people who are used to constant stimulation may feel restless, bored, or unsure of how to fill new pockets of time. They need opportunities, structure, and patient support to rediscover activities that feel grounding and satisfying.

How our kids feel about it all

Many of us who grew up without smartphones remember the freedom and ease of offline adolescence. It’s natural to feel hopeful about giving our kids some of that space back.

But their experience won’t necessarily mirror ours.

For kids who’ve woven Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat into their friendships and identity, this shift can feel like grief — a loss of connection, routine, and self-expression. Some will express sadness or anger. Others may simply feel unsettled.

Our role is to honour those emotions without dismissing them.

So what can we do as parents to help our kids in this transition?

1. Make space for all the feels — yes, even the uncomfortable ones
   Ask how they’re feeling about the changes, what they think they’ll miss, and what they’re worried about. Really listen, without rushing to reassure or correct.

2. Support them to stay connected in healthy ways
   Ask: “What’s your plan for staying in touch with people you care about?” Help them explore options like offline meet-ups, landline calls, group activities or safer online spaces. Their answers to what they will miss can give us valuable clues as to what types of connection they may want. E.g. if they are going to miss creating videos, perhaps there are opportunities for them to continue creating with their friends in another way.

3. Save what matters before the account disappears
   If your preteen/teen does have an account, sit down before December 4th and help them download or save:
   • photos
   • messages
   • drafts
   • favourite videos
   This can actually be an emotional moment, so take it slowly. Then decide together: will you delete the account fully, or simply let it rest until 16? Giving them a say helps them feel grounded.

4. Take a gentle look at your habits
   Our preteens are watching us closely in these years — often more closely than we realise. How often are you checking your socials? Are you okay with this? Is there something you’d like to change? Watching changes the whole family is willing to make can sometimes feel more meaningful than a rule applied only to them.

5. Avoid using "it’s illegal” - try explaining the real why

   It is easy to give kids a “it’s the law” explanation, however there is so much that our kids nuance that our kids need to slowly assimilate in these years to be fully ready for socials at 16. We want our kids to recognise and understand that developing brains are especially sensitive to persuasive design, dopamine loops, and social comparison, and that kids need time to build identity, resilience, and real-world connection before handling those pressures.

6. Use it to refresh things at home
   Use the 10th of December as a moment to start something new, not just something being taken away. Take a moment to revisit tech boundaries, re-establish rituals, and create spaces for unhurried connection.

You’re not doing this alone

This delay is a major cultural shift, but it doesn’t replace the ongoing work of steady, connected parenting. Teens will still make mistakes, get curious, push limits and seek new spaces online. Our role is to offer guidance, boundaries and a safe place to come back to — especially when things get messy.

If you’d like support, structure or a community to walk alongside you, the Phone Savvy Experience offers research-grounded tools, parent–child modules and monthly support calls to give your kids wisdom and skills and help your family navigate these years with confidence.

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