7 November 2025
With the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 coming into effect on the 10th of December, the Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia urges the Australian Government to prioritise young people’s voices and wellbeing to develop effective, evidence-based digital reforms.
In late 2024, the Australian Government passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, restricting social media access for anyone under the age of sixteen. Young people face a growing exposure to online harms in an increasingly digital social landscape. While YACWA welcomes the Government’s commitment to safeguarding young people’s wellbeing,we believe a blanket, age-based restriction is not the most effective nor equitable solution.
Research shows that while social media can have some negative effects, the link between social media use and young people’s wellbeing is often overstated, and not strong enough to justify such a broad policy.
Though positioned as a measure to protect children from online harms, the Bill was developed with minimal youth consultation, reflecting a recurring issue in digital policy: that reforms about young people often exclude their voices.
YACWA Interim CEO, Kylie Wallace, emphasised the importance of listening to young people’s lived experiences in shaping technology and health policy reform.
“We support efforts to create safer online spaces for young people. However, age-based restrictions risk limiting young people’s access to information and connection with online their support networks, especially important for those who may feel disconnected and isolated, including LGBTQIA+ and/or, rurally-based young people.”
Through consultations with young people and the youth sector, YACWA have identified both the benefits and challenges of social media.
“Young people told us that social media is essential for accessing resources, maintaining support networks, and engaging with services,” Ms. Wallace said. “While some young people shared that harmful content negatively affected their mental health, they wanted solutions that addressed these issues without cutting them off from vital connections.”
YACWA expresses concern that these restrictions could negatively impact young people’s connection with local supports, placing additional pressure on youth services and workers who rely on social media to engage and communicate with young people.
YACWA advocates for coordinated efforts between the State and Federal Governments to ensure children and young people are safe online, including:
- Expanding online duty of care regulations for digital platforms, holding organisations accountable for harms and ensuring proactive safeguards for young people’s wellbeing;
- Implementing a grants scheme assisting youth services to engage with young people most impacted by the reforms, such as regional and LGBTQIA+ young people, to help young people connect and access local support networks;
- Investment in targeted mental health initiatives for children and young people, including peer-led and place-based supports, to ensure all young people are supported and thriving;
- Development of co-designed educational initiatives for children, young people, educators, parents/guardians, and youth workers to build digital literacy and empower safe online engagement; and
- Ensuring future digital reforms and reviews are guided by young people’s perspectives, co-designing effective solutions alongside children and young people.
YACWA believes all children and young people have the right to be safe and supported online and will continue to advocate for whole-of-government investments that prioritise their wellbeing.
“We look forward to working closely with Government to ensure ongoing collaboration with young people, the youth sector, and frontline workers to design policies that create a safer, more inclusive digital environment for all,” Ms. Wallace concluded.
