As many of you will know, the new age restrictions for social media use came into effect on 10 December.
Full details and excellent parent resources can be found on the eSafety Commissioner website , and I encourage you to take advantage of the practical guidance they provide.
These changes arrive after years of research showing the very real impact of heavy social media use on adolescents, particularly in relation to mental health, learning, relationships, sleep, and body image. In light of the new restrictions, I found a recent post by researcher and author Marshall Ballantine-Jones especially helpful. Marshall draws together the key evidence and explains why this new approach is not about limiting freedom, but about safeguarding healthy development.
Some of his main points include:
This is a delay, not a ban.
Teens will still grow into social media use as they mature, but delaying access recognises that the developing brain is far more vulnerable to addictive design, comparison culture, and constant stimulation.
This is about protection, not punishment.
The changes were supported across the political spectrum because the evidence is now overwhelming: social media has become a genuine public-health concern for young people.
Ages 12–16 are a uniquely vulnerable window.
Executive function is still forming, and heavy exposure to algorithm-driven platforms at this age is strongly linked to disruptions in sleep, learning, wellbeing, and face-to-face connection.
We already accept age limits for risky behaviours.
Just as we delay driving, alcohol, and other adult responsibilities, this shift simply recognises that young people need time to grow the skills, habits, and resilience required for online life.
Clearer boundaries empower parents.
Although some young people will still try to circumvent the rules, the new landscape gives parents permission to confidently say “not yet”.
You can read Marshall’s full post here .
Alongside Marshall’s timely summary, I also want to commend three additional resources and readings that I found immensely helpful:
- Raising Tech-Healthy Humans by Daniel Sih , an award-winning and deeply practical guide for families wanting to create healthy rhythms, reduce digital overwhelm, and build intentional habits around technology.
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt , a landmark book that lays out the global research linking declining mental health with the rise of phone-based childhood, and makes a compelling case for restoring a more play-based, connected, and less device-dependent upbringing.
- Jonathan Haidt ’s recent article Australia’s New Social Media Regulations: A Big Step Toward a Healthy Childhood offers a clear and accessible explanation of why these changes matter and how they align with what researchers around the world have been urging for more than a decade.
As a school, we want to walk alongside you with clarity, grace, and support. These changes give all of us an opportunity to set clearer expectations, build healthier digital habits, and help our young people approach online life with wisdom rather than overwhelm.
If you have not already, I encourage you to explore the eSafety Commissioner resources and begin gentle, intentional conversations at home about what healthy digital use looks like in your family in this new season.
Mr Peter Richardson
Director of Secondary