‘Give children back their childhoods’

Australia has implemented a landmark move this week to restrict social media access for children under 16, with clinical psychologist Tamara Kezelman describing the legislation as “less a ban than a delay – giving kids more time to develop their identity, relationships and capacity to manage complexity before jumping into the world of social media”.

The restrictions will prevent Australian children from creating or keeping accounts on popular platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube and Facebook.

Kezelman said she feels “hopeful” about the potential impact of the restrictions.

“We’ve become used to young people spending huge amounts of time on social media, being exposed to harmful content and its negative effects, without a clear way forward,” she said.

“This legislation is a needed disruptor that can help reset the norm towards more real-world experiences and less harmful online exposure. It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s a meaningful shift.”