Five ways to teach your teenager that the social media ban isn’t the end of the world

In just over three months, under-16s will wake to find their social media identities have been wiped out. A parenting expert says there are five ways families should prepare.

On December 10, 2025, young Australians under 16 will wake to find their social media accounts deactivated or deleted. World-first legislation will take effect banning sites including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, X, Reddit, and more recently, YouTube.

The government says the move will allow children to experience childhood without online pressures and persuasion and give parents piece of mind.

While unclear exactly how the restrictions will be implemented, social media companies will be required to delete underaged accounts and use age verification software to prevent new accounts. Most importantly, parents will not be able to allow their child access to these sites.

While public debate has been divisive and reactions within the community mixed, the question facing Australian parents will be how their child will respond to the ban.

It cannot be dismissed that social media is a medium that allows young people to express themselves, develop their identity, and seek out social connection.

Identity formation through peer belonging is a crucial developmental stage that occurs during early adolescence where teens face the paradox between striving to fit in while seeking to establish their unique identity.

Dr Micah Boerma, clinical psychologist at The Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney and researcher at the University of Southern Queensland, is offering advice ahead of the phone ban.

Regardless of where parents stand, the reality is clear: the ban will be a challenging adjustment for many young Australians. Not simply because of the addictive design of social media through notifications and personalised algorithms, but due to losing a key aspect of their social identity.

Waiting until December to confront the ban may heightened the shock and disruption for your child.

Here are five ways to prepare:

Start the conversation now

So far, young people have had minimal consultation in regard to the legislation. Families can prepare as early as possible by involving their children in understanding why the ban is occurring, how it will affect both their daily routine and friendships, and developing a plan together on how to approach reducing screen time. Open dialogue will help them feel informed and supported.

Fade out gradually

Frequent and significant social media use can be addictive. Gradually reducing your child’s time on social media rather than suddenly will help them to adjust slowly and prevents feelings of withdrawal and frustration. By planning this approach together, your child can understand and accept it, making the removal of social media smoother and less stressful for the whole family.

Replace, rather than remove

Social media meets some of the social and developmental needs of young people. Most importantly, to connect with their peer group and to develop their unique identity. These needs will not disappear when the ban is introduced.

Being intentional about your child’s participation in clubs or interest groups for regular social connection and their sense of belonging, alongside creative pursuits to express their identity, will be essential for meeting these developmental needs.

Sydney teenagers Frankie, Maeya and Hazel said it was easy to get stuck “scrolling forever” on social media. Picture: Tim Hunter

Create offline communities

Normalise and encourage offline engagement within your communities that isn’t reliant on social media. In Jonathan Haidt’s divisive book, The Anxious Generation, he contends that it is much harder to replace a child’s screen time with play if they are the only one in their peer group not using screens.

The ban presents an opportunity for parents to develop supportive offline communities together, where children can connect in person regularly, and engage in shared activities to strengthening connection beyond the digital world.

Model what you ask for

Children and young people absorb the behaviours and attitudes that are modelled to them in the home. By intentionally managing our own screen time, prioritising face-to-face connections with friends and family, and setting aside regular time for hobbies and activities, we reinforce the importance of balancing digital and offline experiences. Showing them what healthy balance looks like will help them feel supported in the upcoming ban.

Although it remains unclear exactly how the ban will take shape in December, preparing young people now can reduce potential future anxiety and stress while increasing opportunities for offline connection and enhancing resilience.

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Originally published as Five ways to teach your teenager that the social media ban isn’t the end of the world