On November 28th 2024, Australia passed the Social Media Minimum Age bill, banning social media sites of the likes of TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, and X. This will officially start about a year from now, sometime in 2025. If these social media apps do not comply with this regulation, then they will be fined 50 million Australian dollars. In this instance, Australia is playing the lead role in an initiative to restrict social media in large part because of mental health for countries around the world. 

This decision made by Australia is paramount in setting the foundation for other countries to do the same. In the US, TikTok is facing a ban and in 2023, Utah became the first state to regulate social media for children. The Norwegian government also proposed a plan to raise the age needed to agree to the terms and conditions to use social media. France has also already passed a law saying minors under 15 need parental consent to access social media. However, Australia takes these regulations to a whole new level, which will change the game for social media companies in the future.

A large reason why Australia is banning social media is likely due to the effect it has on teens’ mental health. Yale Medicine states that “According to a research study of American teens aged 12-15, those who used social media over three hours each day faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptoms” . Also, excessive use of social media has been linked to sleep and attention problems, and feelings of exclusion in adolescents, where sleep is unbelievably important in the development of teens. 

Ms. Alvez, a social worker here at BHS, says “I have also seen students completely devastated by the cruelty of their peers, and still others who become anxious and insecure as they try to measure up to their peers and/or feel excluded when they perceive that everyone else is having more fun than they are.” 

There is some good that comes with social media, as Colin Caggiano ‘27 says “It gives people another way to communicate.” However, social media can be a very negative and addicting place. This can be very dangerous for teens, with Ms. Alvez adding “Social media platforms have designed their features to be irresistible to the developing brains of young teens, and to me this is terrifying.” 

In 2022, 95% of the teenagers (ages 13-17) that were surveyed reported using social media, with almost a third of them using it ‘almost constantly’ (Pew Research Center). The addicting algorithms used by social media companies are a large part of why teens spend so much time scrolling on social media.

As for how students at BHS feel, Will Simpson ‘27 says “Phones and social media have started to take over children’s lives, which is leading to focus issues and academic related issues. By taking away social media, kids will be more productive in and out of the classroom.” Simpson also adds “Social media can be a negative platform for kids to be on, and eliminating it is best for getting rid of those issues.” 

On the other side of the argument, Ben Balian ‘27 says “Social media can have a really positive effect, as I run a podcast and I use social media to spread my work and share my thoughts. If the United States were to ban social media, I wouldn’t be able to pursue my passion, and that would affect what I want to do in the future.” 

Aiden Arienta ‘27 agrees, saying “The ban is somewhat good in relation to mental health struggles, however, social media is a great way to connect with others.” 

So, there are benefits and disadvantages to banning social media, but the benefits almost certainly outweigh the negatives.

 In 2025, social media will be banned for teens under 16, and this decision made by the Australian government will be a precedent for the rest of the world.