This is the first country to legally ban social media for children, and this is what studies say about it
Australia enacted a nationwide ban on social media access for individuals under sixteen, effective this December. The Australian ban reflects growing parental anxiety regarding online dangers like intimidation and predatory behavior. New research from the American Academy of Pediatrics links early smartphone ownership to negative health outcomes in adolescents. The study found strong correlations between acquiring a smartphone around age eleven and increased sleep disruption, obesity, and depressive symptoms.
9 days ago
Australia has enacted the world's first national law prohibiting social media access for individuals under 16, approved under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and set to fully take effect in December 2025.1
This measure addresses widespread parental concerns about online risks, including bullying, predation, and image commodification on platforms.1
Researchers like Romain Fathi from the Australian National University view it as a bold experiment, with outcomes yet to unfold.1
A December 1, 2025, study in Pediatrics, involving over 10,000 children averaging 12 years old, links early smartphone ownership—often starting at age 11—to increased risks of sleep disruption, obesity, and depressive symptoms.1
Even after accounting for socioeconomic and parenting factors, 13-year-olds with recent smartphones reported worse mental health and sleep compared to peers.1
Lead author Ran Barzilay from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia emphasizes that while smartphones offer benefits like communication and support, their health impacts demand careful consideration akin to diet or exercise.1
An American Psychological Association meta-review of 117 studies highlights how excessive screen time exacerbates emotional and behavioral issues in children, creating a vicious cycle of increased usage for coping.1
Faith communities are engaging with these trends, balancing technology's connective potential against risks to childhood development and human dignity.1
Experts note that younger users face heightened vulnerabilities from constant connectivity's neurological effects.1
In the US, 30 states and the District of Columbia have implemented school phone restrictions, such as device pouches or limited access during breaks, to combat attention deficits and academic declines reported by over half of principals.1
However, parents' groups push back, citing phones' role in emergencies and family coordination, with 78% wanting children reachable during school hours.1
Critics argue that broad bans could disrupt essential communication lines.1
Barzilay advises against outright fear, recommending household rules, nighttime restrictions, content filters, and promotion of offline activities to mitigate risks without total prohibition.1
The developments signal a global shift toward intentional digital navigation for youth, urging protection without isolation.1
Australia's law may inspire further regulations, while research underscores the need for balanced oversight in homes, schools, and legislatures.1
Examine Catholic teachings on digital media and child protection
Catholic teachings on digital media emphasize its potential as a gift from God for fostering human connection, solidarity, and the common good, while cautioning against its misuse that can harm dignity and truth. In Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis highlights how the internet offers "immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity," yet warns that it can exploit weaknesses, spread unverified data, and fuel division or fanaticism if not guided by ethical responsibility . The Catechism underscores that communications media play a major role in formation and information, but they must serve human development without disclosing false meanings of existence .
Regarding child protection, the Church insists on safeguarding minors' dignity in the digital age, viewing online exploitation as a grave violation of their rights and the Gospel's call to protect the vulnerable. The USCCB stresses that the internet's accessibility exposes children to pornography, violence, and manipulation, urging safeguards rooted in respect for life and the common good, as echoed by Pope Francis who condemns such content as an "attack on the dignity of men and women". Popes like John Paul II and Francis call for societal action to prevent children from corrupt commerce, violence, or harmful media, ensuring environments that prioritize their growth and innocence . Pope Leo XIV extends this to AI and digital tools, reminding that technology must enhance human relationships without detracting from care for the fragile.
These teachings portray digital media like a powerful river: it can irrigate fields of knowledge and unity, but unchecked, it floods with dangers—especially for children, whom we must shield as Christ urges.
What aspect of these teachings—such as media's role in formation or specific protections for children—would you like to explore further to deepen your understanding?