Just in time for the holidays, Australian youth under 16 unwrapped a ban on social media. A new law requires ten of the world’s most prominent social media platforms—Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube—to block young Australians from accessing existing accounts or creating new ones, regardless of parental permission.

At this point, you don’t need a child and adolescent psychologist (hi) to tell you about the links between social media and poorer psychological well-being for youth. Youth social media use and misuse are a worldwide public health concern, and it’s clear that we need big swings to deter the harmful effects of digital engagement.

Could deterrents like Australia’s ban be such a swing? Absolutely. But let’s not get lulled into thinking banning social media will do the heavy lifting needed to set the mental health of digitally-engaged youth on the road to recovery. To truly turn things around, age-related social media restrictions need to be part of a package deal to address youth mental health that covers access and safety, digital literacy

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