Letting Kids Be Kids Isn’t Going to Be Easy
Tomorrow, Australia will implement one of the most significant youth safety reforms we’ve seen, a nationwide ban preventing under 16s from using social media.
For many adults, this feels like long overdue protection.
For many young people, particularly in rural, regional and remote communities, it feels like an abrupt loss of connection.
Over recent days, Meta has pre emptively shut down accounts belonging to thousands of 13 to 15 year olds. The intention was reassurance. The result has been confusion, fear and heightened anxiety.
And as someone who works extensively with Australia’s most isolated communities, I know one truth very clearly:
connection is not a luxury for young people, it is a lifeline.
But before we focus solely on the behaviour of young people, we must acknowledge something uncomfortable
This Is an Adult Created Problem
Young people did not build social media.
They did not design the algorithms.
They did not create the culture of constant availability.
Adults did.
Adults normalised scrolling as communication.
Adults modelled conversations through screens rather than face to face.
Adults blurred the lines between digital life and real life.
So when we say, “Kids rely too much on social media,” we must recognise that many adults have also forgotten how to connect beyond it.
We are asking young people to suddenly change communication habits that we, as adults, no longer model consistently.
If we want young people to reconnect offline, adults must lead that shift, not simply demand it.
The Benefits: Why Regulation Still Matters
The online landscape has evolved faster than young minds can safely navigate.
Schools, families and mental health professionals are seeing growing impacts:
cyberbullying
grooming risks
exposure to harmful or explicit content
comparison culture
disrupted sleep
compulsive online behaviours
symptoms of anxiety and depression
Regulation can reduce harm.
Boundaries can support healthier development.
A pause in exposure can give young people space to breathe.
But safety must be balanced with another essential ingredient: connection.
And connection looks completely different depending on where a child lives.
The Risks: Why Some Young People Will Be Disproportionately Affected
For many young people in rural, regional and remote Australia, social media is not entertainment, it is infrastructure.
It is how they:
maintain friendships across vast distances
stay connected to family during FIFO swings, farm seasons or emergencies
explore identity and belonging in communities where diversity is limited
access learning, interests and peer groups not available locally
find support through organisations like Dolly’s Dream, TIACS, ReachOut and Headspace
For boarders, it can be their emotional anchor.
For disabled or neurodivergent young people, it is an accessible social space.
For LGBTQIA+ youth in small towns, it is often their only safe, affirming community.
Suddenly removing this connection will have emotional consequences we cannot ignore.
We are already seeing:
spikes in anxiety
fear of losing friendships
distress at being abruptly cut off
uncertainty about maintaining social networks
deep concern from parents and educators
Disconnection is one of the strongest predictors of mental health decline.
If safety is the goal, we cannot afford to create isolation in its place.
So What Now?
Support Strategies to Help Young People Through This Transition**
Organisations like Dolly’s Dream have long shown us the power of connection in preventing harm. As the ban begins, their approach is more important than ever:
1. Communicate early, clearly and calmly
Explain why the ban is happening.
Listen to concerns.
Acknowledge fears.
Support them emotionally through the transition.
2. Rebuild offline belonging
If one avenue of connection disappears, another must be intentionally created.
Support:
youth groups, sport and arts programs
structured social catch-ups
wellbeing-led school initiatives
opportunities for young people to contribute and belong
3. Teach digital literacy, not digital fear
This is an ideal moment to build healthy habits:
recognising unsafe interactions
understanding algorithms
setting boundaries
protecting mental health
staying safe in digital spaces that remain available
4. Keep communication channels open
Phone calls, video chats, messaging apps essential for kids whose friendships span significant distances.
5. Make professional support visible and normalised
Services include:
Normalising support encourages help seeking before crisis.
Conclusion: Safety Without Connection Is Not Safety
The ban will protect many.
But it will also disconnect others, particularly those living with distance, disability, marginalisation or limited access to community spaces.
If we remove one of their primary tools for connection, adults must step up.
We must lead the change we expect from young people.
We must model healthier communication.
We must create places for young people to belong.
We must ensure no child feels alone in this transition.
Keeping kids safe is important.
Keeping them connected is essential.
And both begin with us.