The New Social Media Ban for Under-16s: A Conversation Worth Having

From December 2025, Australian children under 16 will no longer be able to create or manage accounts on social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and notably, YouTube.

This change, introduced by the Australian Government, is part of a broader attempt to reduce online harm, with a focus on safety, mental health and protecting kids from cyberbullying, predatory algorithms and inappropriate content.

At The Giggle Garden, our work centres around early and primary years, but this shift has reached almost every parent group this week, and for good reason. It’s a big conversation, and one that deserves space for nuance.

What’s Changing?

Until now, YouTube was exempt from the social media ban, but from December, even educational and special interest channels will be locked behind age-gates unless accessed through a parent or carer’s account.

The government and supporters of the change say it’s about protecting children from:

• Cyberbullying

• Addictive design features

• Exposure to violent or harmful content

• Predatory algorithms

Mental health experts have called it a “public health move” — a way to reduce digital harm and pause the rapid exposure of young minds to content not designed for them.

YouTube Kids will still be available, and for many families, it offers a gentler, safer alternative. But if your child has a niche special interest — and you’ve ever searched for something oddly specific like “washing machine disassembly tutorials” or “famous escalators of Japan” — you’ll know that those treasured videos aren’t always found on the Kids platform.

For many neurodivergent children, these interests aren’t just hobbies. They’re joyful, grounding, and emotionally regulating. Losing access to them without hands-on adult involvement may feel more like disconnection than protection.

But Critics Warn: The Social Media Ban For Under-16s May Create More Harm Than It Solves

Others argue that this is a blunt tool for a nuanced issue. Some concerns include:

• Reduced access to affirming online communities for LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent teens

• Digital literacy being replaced by digital avoidance

• Forcing kids to lie about their age, rather than teaching them safer habits

• Further isolating rural, disabled or lower-income families

• Increased burnout for neurodivergent kids who rely on solo screen-based regulation

A common counterpoint? “We didn’t grow up with social media, and we turned out fine.” But parenting today looks different. The streets aren’t safe to be out until the sun goes down, social play options aren’t always inclusive, and the pressure on families to provide in-person connection at all times — while working, juggling appointments, or simply surviving — is enormous.

Why It’s Complicated for Neurodivergent Kids

For neurodivergent children, online spaces can offer things offline ones don’t: predictable social scripts, deep-dive content, sensory regulation, or simply a place where their “too much” is just… right.

A social media ban for under-16s, removing access to platforms they find comforting, inspiring, or identity-affirming, may have unintended consequences.

That doesn’t mean throw the rules out. It means acknowledging that a one-size-fits-all policy rarely works for a community built on uniqueness. Forcing a child to connect in ways that feel unnatural or inaccessible to them doesn’t build social skills; it creates shame and burnout.

Parents Know Their Kids Best

We understand the desire to keep children safe online — we all want that.

We also believe that not every solution needs to be top-down. Sometimes, what children need most is not a blanket restriction, but engaged, informed parenting. Tools like YouTube Kids, Kids Messenger, and parental controls can go a long way when used alongside conversations and boundaries that match the child, not just their age.

We’re not pretending there’s a perfect answer. We’re just saying: it’s more complex than it seems.

So, What Now?

We’ll be watching closely as this ban unfolds and how it’s implemented in real family life, particularly for children with additional needs.

In the meantime, we’ll keep doing what we do best: helping parents of young children navigate the intersection of regulation, inclusion, connection and childhood in this ever-changing world.

If you’ve got thoughts, we’d love to hear them. Policies may come from parliament, but wisdom often starts with lived experience. Yours.