‘Get ready guides’ rolled out to help Aussie parents prepare for nationwide social media age ban
Parents are being urged to “understand the laws” ahead of Australia’s world-first social media age ban. See what help will be available.
Parents will be given “get-ready guides” for the start of Australia’s world-leading social media age ban, while resources will be rolled out in schools to lift awareness of the looming laws.
Education ministers will meet in Brisbane on Friday where they will be briefed by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant on the incoming changes and how her agency will support parents and schools to build children’s digital literacy and resilience.
“Delaying children’s access to social media accounts gives them valuable time to learn and grow, free of the powerful, unseen forces of opaque algorithms and endless scroll,” Ms Inman Grant said.
From December 10 all Australian child aged under 16 will be restricted from a range of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X.
As part of the federal government’s education campaign, eSafety will on Friday release a comprehensive package of resources available for free at eSafety.gov.au.
The commission will also begin an extended series of webinars across Australian time zones to answer questions from the public and provide additional details.
The resources package includes an online hub with information on how to prepare for the ban, practical guidance for parents and carers, including conversations starters and get-ready guides.
In addition to information for educators, there will also be “youth-friendly” content outlining what the new restrictions mean for young people.
Communications Minister Anika Wells said with less than two months until December 10, the government would continue to engage with teachers, students, children and parents because “we want this law to be discussed openly and regularly in classrooms, on the drive to school, and at the dinner table”.
“Our government is on the side of families and restricting under-16s from holding accounts on social media platforms is just one element of our ongoing work to keep young people safer online,” she said.
“We encourage all Australians to engage with the range of resources now available to help them understand the laws and, importantly, why they’re necessary – for the good of our young people.”
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Originally published as ‘Get ready guides’ rolled out to help Aussie parents prepare for nationwide social media age ban
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