Australia gained a reputation for erring on the side of caution after being one of the most strict nations to respond to the global health crisis of 2020-2021. However, many were shocked today (December 10, 2025) when it was announced that they banned social media for all adolescents under the age of 16.
Why 16, versus under 17 or 18 which also constitute being a minor in Australia? For one, a study commissioned by the government earlier in the annum found that 96% of children aged 10-15 used social media, and that 70% of them had been exposed to harmful content, including misogynistic and violent material in addition to content promoting eating disorders and suicide. More than 14% also reported experiencing grooming-type behavior from adults or older adolescents, and more than 50% indicated they had been victims of cyberbullying. Furthermore, adolescents typically experience leaps and bounds of emotional growth when they reach and pass the boundary of 16. It marks a crucial point in time for emotional development as teenagers’ brains refine emotion regulation and complex social understanding. They also gain significant independence, deepen self-identity, explore new responsibilities (such as having a job and driving), and form more complex relationships. While there is still risk in using social media, they are generally better prepared to manage it when compared to their younger counterparts.
If you want to know more about the details regarding this recent development, you can find them right here. What this article intends to do instead, is offer American parents and guardians added insight about the benefits and risks of allowing their kids to use social media so that they can make more informed decisions for their respective households. If you’re among this group, you need to keep reading.
What American Parents Need to Consider When Deliberating Greater Regulation, or a Ban, on Social Media for Their Under 16 Adolescents
What You Already Know About Social Media Impact on Adolescents
Parents and guardians are all aware, to some degree, that allowing children under 16 to use social media comes with a built-in list of pros and cons as it applies to mental health and wellness.
Mental Health Benefits of Allowing Kids Under 16 to Use Social Media
- Can allow them to find supportive communities that they may not find at school.
- Can reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness.
- Can allow them to explore their identity at an arm’s length from the day to day life.
- Can allow them to access information about healthy coping strategies that they may not be comfortable speaking to a parent, guardian, or school counselor about.
- Can allow them to practice their social skills, which may result in improved self-esteem.
- Allows them to explore healthy interests that may inspire their own development in things that make them happy, such as the arts (drawing, painting, music, etc.), athletics, science and other academics.
Mental Health Consequences of Allowing Kids Under 16 to Use Social Media
- Creates an opportunity for cyberbullying, which can elevate or lead to depression, anxiety, poor body image, low self-esteem, sleep disruption, and suicidal ideation.
- Creates an opportunity for unrealistic comparisons, which can elevate or lead to depression, anxiety, poor body image, low self-esteem, sleep disruption, and suicidal ideation.
- Creates an opportunity for a fear-of-missing-out (FOMO), which can elevate or lead to depression, anxiety, stress, and low self-esteem.
- Creates an opportunity for exposure to harmful content, which can be traumatic and elevate or lead to feelings of anxiety and stress.
- Can discourage real world interactions with peers, which can hamper a critical component of social development.
- Can lead to addictive behavior relating to screen time on social networks.
A “Micro” Mental Health Risk You Might Not Be Aware Of
The digital world is evolving at a record pace. Social networks no longer exist in a vacuum, as they have become deeply integrated with other digital activities that are associated with various harms, especially among those who are predisposed to impulsive and problematic behavior – including adolescents under 16 who have a long way to go with frontal lobe development. Much of the risk is associated with the concept of microtransactions.
Microtransactions are small and easily-made payments that permit both virtual and real-money purchases of virtual items and services within digital environments. They are found on platforms that are often free for adolescents to register with (or with the help of a parents) and initially use, prior to being presented with an option to “upgrade” and “enhance” their experience with tap of a button. Research confirms that microtransactions are addictive as they leverage psychological principles that adolescents are easily influenced by. These include variable rewards, loss aversion, and particularly social/peer pressure. Microtransactions help create a cycle of impulsive spending that is driven by the release of dopamine. This release becomes diluted over time and requires that an adolescent engage with greater frequency and/or volume to sustain the same feeling. Microtransactions are integrated into online activities that under-16 kids are exposed to through social media. Below is a brief summary of the associated behavioral health issues.
Concerning Behaviors Facilitated by Social Media Allowance of Online Activities that Feature Microtransactions
i) Unhealthy Gaming Behavior
Gaming and social media are now deeply intertwined, as kid-friendly games are not only marketed heavily on traditional social media platforms, they have become social platforms with built-in chat features and the like. The lines have been blurred between the two, as young gamers share achievements, find friends, and engage in a massive digital ecosystem for connection and entertainment. Meanwhile, microtransactions and gaming have also become intertwined, as the former is the primary revenue source for a majority of video game platforms. In video game environments, microtransactions are made to secure virtual goods like in-game currencies, character customization options, power-ups, and exclusive content to enhance user experience. Microtransactions are enabled in E for Everyone and T for Teen (13+) games that kids under the age of 16 enjoy, including Roblox, Apex legends, FIFA, Mario Kart Tour, Overwatch, Star Wars Battlefront 2, and more. Microtransactions integration in social gaming is identified as something for parents and guardians to watch out for when determining whether or not their young teenagers are financially literate enough to have their own credit cards.
ii) Gambling Behavior
We named this one “gambling behavior” instead of “unhealthy gambling behavior” because anyone under 16 should not be participating in any form of gambling. Period. Unfortunately, online gambling and social media are also deeply intertwined. Real money casino and sports betting platforms are marketed by social media platforms (including Instagram) in addition to influencers (like these people) who are often paid by operators to promote gambling to their social media audiences. Your under-16 teen is exposed to this marketing. However, where they may be more exposed to online gambling and development of impulsive behavior regarding microtransactions, is when it comes to “FREE to play” sweepstakes casinos which are omnipresent on social media. Social / sweepstakes casinos sustain profitability via microtransactions. You don’t need real money to participate in microtransactions, as players can use virtual coins that they win by playing to purchase virtual coins and pay for video-game-esque skins, animations, and graphics, with a focus on delivering a more engaging user experience.
“Teens and young adults may have a difficult time going into a casino unnoticed but they have easy access to a variety of betting and gambling options. This expanded accessibility has increased exposure to the risks of underage betting, but there is little regulation or conversation around this problem.” (University of Michigan)
iii) Unhealthy Consumer Behavior:
Social media enables adolescent online shopping by blending discovery and purchase into one seamless experience through features like shoppable posts, in-app checkouts (i.e. via Facebook Shops, Instagram Shopping), live shopping, and personalized ads, allowing young users to find, research, and buy products without leaving the app. This reduces friction and drives impulsive purchases. Microtransactions are evident through “you may also like” recommendations that accompany initial purchases and other tactics used to offer buyers highly personalized, small-value purchase options for related products or impulse items. In itself, this is a practical concern for parents who let their kids navigate social media while logged into their (parents) profiles and payment-enabled devices, or those who allow their under-16 kids to have their own credit cards. However, it is also a general behavioral health concern because the entire shopping experience (facilitated by social media) encourages online consumer behavior among a young audience that is more vulnerable to impulsivity.
Ban or Moderation?
We realize that there is a lot to digest above. While you recognize the long list of risks associated with adolescent use of social media, you also recognize that your child has experienced benefits that you don’t want to take away. Ultimately, most experts recommend moderation and active parental involvement over outright bans for young teens. Bans can isolate teens and prevent them from learning self-regulation, while moderate use offers connection but needs guidance to mitigate risks like cyberbullying and poor body image, et cetera. A balanced approach involves setting clear limits regarding time, types of content accessed, and device-free zones (at the dinner table and around bedtime). Parents and guardians are encouraged to teach digital literacy, lead by example (do you have an issue with social media use?) and fostering open communication to help teens navigate the benefits and dangers safely.
We know that even attempting to attain this balance can feel overwhelming, which is where Kindbridge comes in. Through our family counseling services we can help you navigate this new digital world together with your teen to ensure a healthier and happier household. Click or call to get started.
