BEYOND THE SOCIAL MEDIA BAN: PARENTS TOLD TO STEP UP ON ONLINE SAFETY

Parents are the first line of defence to protect children online

Australia’s social media age restrictions come into force in less than six months, but child protection experts warn that parents and schools can’t leave online safety to tech companies alone.

Under new laws effective from December 10, platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube must take “reasonable steps” to stop children under 16 from opening accounts.

The changes are designed to shield young people from harmful content at an earlier age.

But University of South Australia Associate Professor Lesley-Anne Ey says rules and bans are only part of the solution.

“Parents are the first line of defence to protect children online,” says Associate Professor Ey.

“From the moment children start using devices, parents need to have age-appropriate conversations about the content they access and how they interact and behave online.

“This should include understanding privacy, who to ‘friend’, the open nature of the internet, and how anything they post – from text to photos or videos – may remain online and accessible for years.”

She says families need to go further, openly discussing risks such as sexting, AI-generated deepfakes, bullying and grooming.

“Because children’s brains are still developing, they often act on impulse without considering the consequences. They’re naturally more inclined to take risks and assume they’re safe – but the reality is they’re not, and they need strategies to protect themselves.”

While the upcoming laws are designed to curb early exposure, Associate Professor Ey stresses that young people will still spend time online through games, chats, photo sharing and video messaging.

“Online safety isn’t a one-off talk or an age restriction to delay use,” she says. “It’s an ongoing conversation between schools, families and children to help them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

“Education is key: we need parents and teachers to have the skills and knowledge to support children; we need ongoing training to understand the risks and benefits of new technologies, and we need ways to empower young people to use these to enhance, not limit their lives.”

She adds that the most crucial step is ensuring children know they have a trusted adult to turn to if they feel unsafe online.

“Because in the end, it’s not just about keeping children off social media – it’s about giving them the knowledge, confidence and skills to thrive safely in a digital world that will only keep growing.”

The University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide are set to merge to form Adelaide University in January 2026, to boost research, teaching and student experience on a global scale.