Expert urges parents to let kids take 'healthy risks' for 1990s-style social-media-free summer

Aussie parents hope the social media ban will give kids the ‘1990s summer’ they enjoyed, full of exploration, adventure and real-life mates. Sounds like nirvana, right?

Australian parents are looking forward to a “90s-style summer” without social media, as a leading psychologist and teen expert says now is the time for children to take healthy risks.

By the summer school holidays, under-16s will be restricted from accessing social media due to Australia’s world leading social media ban inspired by News Corp’s Let Them Be Kids campaign. 

Sydney company director Matt Griffin, 54, hopes the ban will inspire his two sons aged 13 and 15 to have a childhood like his.

Matt Griffin hopes this social-media-free summer he’ll spend more time outside with his two sons, Charlie and Oscar. Picture: Thomas Annetts

“I grew up in the Shire where you were either out on a boat or surfing,” the father said.

“It was the best part of growing up in Cronulla.

“All our mates were close by and you built friendships out on the street.

“Kids don’t do that anymore. It’s such a shame.”

Mr Griffin shares a similar nostalgia to over 1000 Australian parents of children aged 11-17 who were surveyed on behalf of Life360, a family tracking and safety app.

The Griffin family has embraced nostalgia with a project van. Picture: Thomas Annetts

The survey found 71 per cent of parents hoped their kids would have a more 90s-style summer grounded by in-person fun. 

But the same survey found three in four parents are concerned about rising cost of living making holidays more expensive and stressful.

Two-thirds of parents also reported their childhood was more free than their own children’s.

Psychologist and teen expert Collett Smart said these responses showed parents wanted a carefree, but safe summer holiday for their family.

“This summer is part of the transition away from social media,” she said.

Collett Smart is a psychologist, author and teen expert.

“So it’s important to work with our children on what that new normal is going to look like.

“Brainstorm ideas with them to see how they want to have a fun summer.”

Ms Smart said this summer was the time for children to take more “healthy risks”.

“Healthy risk taking is a vital part of developing resilience, autonomy and self-confidence,” she said.

“Healthy risks are things like taking the train alone to visit friends, going to the shops to pick up essentials for the family, or simple things like climbing a tree or riding your bike down to the park.”

Ms Smart believes parents are too risk-averse and it is hindering children’s development.

The psychologist said tracking apps like Life360 can help parents become more confident their children are safe even when they are out of sight.

Ms Smart does advise use of tracking apps to be consensual and a mutual family decision.

Mr Griffin uses a family tracking app with his two sons.

“It gives me confidence to let them out a bit more easily,” he said.

“You bring up your kids to make good decisions themselves.

“But there is still that fear that you don’t know where they are and what they’re doing.

“I at least know where they are.”

Originally published as Expert urges parents to let kids take 'healthy risks' for 1990s-style social-media-free summer