Australia restricts social media – From Instagram to TikTok: Why we also need a ban for under 16s

Australia is taking a significant step: a new law could ban the use of social media such as TikTok, Instagram or Facebook for young people under the age of 16. The aim is to protect young people's mental health from the harmful effects of excessive social media use. Why is an age limit necessary and what challenges does it bring with it?

Why an age limit of 16 makes sense

Numerous studies show that excessive use of social media is linked to psychological problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and a negative self-image. Young people are in a sensitive development phase where their own personality develops and is significantly shaped. Social media platforms are designed to continually capture attention through likes, comments and algorithms.

For young people seeking validation, this creates unhealthy pressure to fit in or not be good enough. A recent workshop asked me whether it was normal to be disgusted by your body and reject it. Unfortunately, we no longer know what normal is because we are so blinded by social media.

Florian Buschmann, founder of “Offline Heroes”, is committed to preventing media addiction. Once affected himself, he knows about the dangers. Every year he and his team hold over 300 events in schools with more than 10,000 participants. The “Offline Heroes” are committed to media literacy, media addiction prevention and the correct use of AI. You know: the future begins with our children.

The age limit of 16 years could at least partially break this dynamic. It is intended to prevent young people in their formative phase of life from being overly influenced by the often idealized and distorted images that social media convey.

Challenges in implementation

But how do you define what “social media” is? TikTok, Instagram and Facebook are clear cases. On platforms like YouTube with the Shorts function, the boundaries between entertainment medium and social network are blurred. While YouTube is primarily perceived as a video platform, shorts and comment areas definitely meet the criteria of a social medium. Whether such platforms fall under the planned regulation remains questionable.

The implementation also raises technical and legal questions: How do you ensure that young people under the age of 16 do not still register? Is a simple age query enough or would verified proof of identity be necessary? The danger here is that such measures can be circumvented, especially by technically savvy young people.

Experiences from our workshops

Our own workshops in schools show how early young people come into contact with social media and short videos – often in primary school. Children report disturbing content such as horror scenes or critical challenges that they encounter on platforms such as TikTok or YouTube Shorts. The picture is similar in secondary schools: young people talk about weight loss challenges, unrealistic body ideals and the constant feeling of not being good enough.

It is clear that social media has an immense impact on young people's self-image. From the first second we scroll through social media, the comparison begins – often unconsciously. The short videos serve as a template by which many people measure their own lives. This dynamic has profound effects on mental well-being.

Impact on adults too

It's not just young people who are affected – adults also feel the negative effects of social media use. Studies show that excessive scrolling can lead to problems concentrating, increased stress and difficulty sleeping. Social media often acts as an amplifier for existing insecurities – regardless of age. What is particularly dangerous is that social media has addictive properties for many users. Because of platforms' endless feeds and reward system, people often spend far more time online than they realize.

Conclusion: Protection for all age groups

Australia's move is an important step in protecting young people from the negative influences of social media. But it is crucial to look at the issue more broadly. Not only children and young people, but also adults suffer from the effects of social media – from psychological problems to addiction.

The discussion about social media should therefore not only be limited to legal regulations, but should also include preventative measures, education and raising awareness of the entire society. This is the only way we can take advantage of the opportunities of the digital world without underestimating its risks.