Three months into Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s, has it been a success?

"Our data is still minimal, says Caroline Thain, national clinical adviser with the mental health organisation Headspace. We're really waiting for a few more months before we do a deeper dive. About one in 10 teenagers coming into Headspace centres have brought up the social media ban as their reason for seeking support."

"The study will follow more than 4,000 children and families for more than two years. There will be surveys, and opt-in smartphone use tracking, capturing information on time spent and time-of-day app use. The assessment will build on external data including school test results, and healthcare and drug prescription data."

"The study will explore a wide range of outcomes, including children's wellbeing and mental health, their exposure to online risks and harms, and their digital habits and social media patterns. It will also examine help-seeking behaviour, family relationships and parenting experiences and the early experiences and impacts on young people under 16."

Australia implemented a social media ban for teenagers in December 2025, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese citing 4.7 million account deactivations across major platforms as evidence of success. However, mental health experts like Caroline Thain from Headspace note that meaningful data on the ban's actual effects remains minimal. The eSafety Commissioner has launched a comprehensive two-year evaluation study tracking over 4,000 children and families, incorporating surveys, smartphone usage tracking, school test results, and healthcare data. The study will assess multiple outcomes including mental health, online safety, digital habits, help-seeking behavior, family relationships, and parenting experiences. Results will be released progressively throughout the year, providing a fuller picture beyond the technical compliance metrics.

Read at www.theguardian.com