View in EDS

Debate: Social media in children and young people – time for a ban? Beyond the ban – empowering parents and schools to keep adolescents safe on social media.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Debate: Social media in children and young people – time for a ban? Beyond the ban – empowering parents and schools to keep adolescents safe on social media.
Authors: Champion, Katrina E. (AUTHOR), Birrell, Louise (AUTHOR), Smout, Scarlett (AUTHOR), Teesson, Maree (AUTHOR), Slade, Tim (AUTHOR)
Source: Child & Adolescent Mental Health. Nov2025, Vol. 30 Issue 4, p411-413. 3p.
Subjects: Social media laws, Parents, Social media, Safety, Debate, Self-efficacy, Mental health, Schools, Psychological well-being, Parenting, Teenagers' conduct of life, Causality (Physics), Alcohol drinking, Time, Adolescence, Children
Geographic Terms: Australia
Abstract: In this article, we examine Australia's landmark decision to ban social media access for children under the age of 16, set to take effect in December 2025. While the legislation aims to protect young people from the harms of social media, including its impact on mental health and wellbeing, the evidence base underpinning the ban remains inconclusive, with most studies unable to establish causality. Drawing on parallels with adolescent alcohol prevention, we argue that prohibition alone is unlikely to be effective. Instead, we advocate for a harm minimisation approach that equips young people with digital literacy, resilience, and help‐seeking skills. We highlight the essential roles of parents, schools, and adolescents in fostering safer social media use and call for inclusive, co‐designed education initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Child & Adolescent Mental Health is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Description
Abstract:In this article, we examine Australia's landmark decision to ban social media access for children under the age of 16, set to take effect in December 2025. While the legislation aims to protect young people from the harms of social media, including its impact on mental health and wellbeing, the evidence base underpinning the ban remains inconclusive, with most studies unable to establish causality. Drawing on parallels with adolescent alcohol prevention, we argue that prohibition alone is unlikely to be effective. Instead, we advocate for a harm minimisation approach that equips young people with digital literacy, resilience, and help‐seeking skills. We highlight the essential roles of parents, schools, and adolescents in fostering safer social media use and call for inclusive, co‐designed education initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:1475357X
DOI:10.1111/camh.70032