Social Media is Changing - Are Parents Ready?

We Need to Prepare Parents to Help Them Prepare Their Children
On December 10, long overdue reforms to children’s access to social media will finally begin. But after years of unregulated exposure - despite consistent research and advocacy warning governments of the risks - families now face a much harder transition. While these changes are seen as a first step, they are designed to protect children, yet many parents may feel unprepared for the sudden impact, and unaware that these changes can activate real psychological consequences.

What the New Rules Mean from 10 December
• Platforms must take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent under-16s from holding accounts.
• Many children will lose access immediately; others may not until systems strengthen.
• Some accounts will slip through the cracks, as the government has acknowledged.
• Parents should expect uncertainty and prepare for the psychological, social, physiological, and emotional impacts on children.

When change occurs in any context, we need time to adjust, as certain behaviours quickly become habits. These habits can activate automatically, which is why awareness is essential in identifying them when working toward change. When we are trying to change a behaviour, even when we are intent on changing the habit because we know it may not be good for us, for example, eating less sugar, we will experience difficulties - even with the best intentions. Therefore, it is so important to connect with the why behind change: increasing our motivation and persistence to replace habits with healthier choices.

Changing behaviours is even more complicated when the behaviour is being used as a coping mechanism to self-soothe, or when the person involved is not ready to change and the decision is imposed by someone else.

Now let’s apply these effects to the changes to social media access for children and young people under 16 years. Some young people will agree with the reforms, recognise the dangers, and welcome help in reducing their reliance or ‘addiction’ to their social media use. But others may feel anxious, even panicked, as the December 10 deadline approaches. The unlimited access children and young people have had until now, without any prior regulation, has increased the likelihood that many will experience distress and real difficulty in adjusting their reliance on social media.

What stands out for CMA is the lack of information being provided to parents to help them prepare for the likely impacts. Research clearly shows a bi-directional effect between parents’ (and teachers’) stress and that of their children. If uninformed parents are faced with children displaying emotional dysregulation and distress - such as anger, irritability, or withdrawal - these reactions will almost inevitably trigger the parents’ own emotional responses. Parents need to know that these reactions are expected in some children and young people. Not all families will face severe adjustment problems, but it is important to highlight the likelihood so that parents can prepare themselves, as well as their children, for this change.

Children and young people will need their parents’ help to regulate, and this must be done with understanding and compassion. Parents can support by explaining what is happening when their children experience distressing or confusing emotions, validating their children’s feelings, and then working together to find healthy ways to adjust. Regulation should not mean shutting down emotions, but guiding young people toward safer, constructive coping strategies.

What are the Likely Impacts?
• Increased anxiety or frustration
Young people may feel cut off from friends or routines they rely on. Some may resist the changes, leading to conflict at home. Therefore, it is essential for parents to understand possible reactions in advance. Otherwise, they may respond without insight into what is really happening. Parents must first validate themselves — it is challenging to help someone change when they are not ready — before validating their child. If young people are prevented from expressing their feelings, those feelings will compound, and they will simply seek others to talk to or their distress responses will escalate.
• A sense of loss or disconnection
Young people form strong emotional attachments to digital platforms. Restrictions can feel like a loss, which may lead to sadness, irritability, or disengagement.
• Pressure on parents
Some parents may feel ill-equipped to explain the new rules or manage the emotional fallout. This adds to the already high levels of parental stress around technology and screen time.
• Potential for improved sleep and focus
On the positive side, reduced screen use may, in time, support better concentration, sleep, and emotional regulation — provided it is replaced with healthy and engaging alternatives. However, initially, sleep may be disrupted, particularly if young people have relied on social media contact to relax before bedtime.

So, what should families do?
1. Prepare yourself, then your child: Learn what is actually changing. For example, these reforms limit account creation, not necessarily content access.
2. Have open, honest conversations: Acknowledge your child’s feelings. Validate. Be curious, not critical.
3. Create a transition plan: Talk now about new routines, alternative hobbies, and ways to stay connected.
4. Know what you stand for: Explain your values. For example: “I care about your safety online and want to help you grow up strong, not addicted to someone else’s idea of what you should be.”

CMA is Here to Guide Families
1. Our movie reviews provide developmentally appropriate guidance for parents.
2. Our practical tip sheets offer tools to manage screen time and digital privacy.
3. Our advocacy ensures that policy reflects real family life — not just ideal scenarios.

Let’s be Clear: Restriction Alone is not Enough
Australia’s social media regulations are a signal, not a solution. They come after years of inaction, which has left children more dependent and parents less prepared. Real reform must be accompanied by education, compassion, and guidance — for children, and for the adults raising and teaching them.

If you’re asking yourself:
“How do I help my child through this change, without it becoming a battlefield?”
Know that you are not alone - and CMA is here to help.

Learn more
Visit childrenandmedia.org.au, sign up to Know Before You Go and small screen, and consider becoming a member to support our ongoing work helping Australian children thrive in a digital world.