Social Media Delay

Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of the typical Knox student who is about to face changes to their social media access…

Social media has likely been a ubiquitous part of a typical Knox student’s environment since before birth and daily routine throughout their schooling years.

● Next year, our students would have been roughly born in 2009 to 2013. For our senior students, Facebook had already been around for around 4 years when they were born, the first iPhone just two years older than them. For our youngest students, Instagram had existed for around 3 years when they were born.

● The NSW Digital Education Revolution, when the government started rolling out laptops to school students, was in 2009.

● Research from the Australian eSafety Commissioner in 2024 indicated that:

○ About 80% of Australian children aged 8–12 have used social media, with many getting accounts by age 9–10.

○ By age 12–13, the average child uses 3.1 social media services,

○ Usage increases significantly with age, with 92% of Australian teens aged 15–16 using social media.

Managing the Change

For a large majority of our Knox students, the restrictions to their social media access - while arguably a step in the positive direction for their wellbeing - is a significant change and perhaps a disruption to their everyday lives.

Some reactions from our students under 16 may include but not limited to:

● This is unfair, we’re so used to having social media.

● I’m losing opportunities to socialise and connect with friends (social exclusion & FOMO, feeling disconnected or missing out)

● I can’t express myself on social media anymore (identity)

● I am worried about how I am going to keep myself entertained (restless)

● I don’t know how this is going to make that much of an impact, people will find a way to get around it

● I am worried about access to supportive and safe online communities (for example neurodiverse kids, LGBTQ+ youth, kids with less opportunity for offline connection)

● Is this just going to push us to less safe platforms?

● Is this protecting me, or limiting me?

● This is just adults trying to stop teens from having fun.

● Dystopia: This has nothing to do with our wellbeing, this is about control.

As parents, we have witnessed technology evolve and transform our lives. We remember a time before social media and personal mobile devices. We had to learn to balance our online and offline worlds. For many of our children, however, life without social media is almost unimaginable.

The NSW government’s initiative to restrict social media access for young people under 16 years of age has stirred strong reactions. Some welcome the protective measure, while others worry about lost opportunities for connection and digital learning. Whatever our perspective, this reminds us how important it is to stay connected with our children as they navigate a digital world we never grew up in.

Rather than focusing only on rules and restrictions, this is a chance to strengthen our relationships through open, supportive conversation. Our kids need to feel heard and understood — especially about the things that matter to them online. Ultimately, the most effective safeguard is not just policy — it is connection and communication. When our young people feel they can talk to us about their experiences - online or offline - we provide them the best foundation for navigating new landscapes with awareness and resilience, including the new Social Media Ban.

Generational Nostalgia

It’s worth remembering, though, that every generation has faced its own version of this tension. There’s a long-standing fallacy shared across generations: each one tends to believe that crime is getting worse, children are more entitled or disobedient, and that new trends are somehow more harmful than those of their own youth. As Baz Luhrmann famously reminded graduates in 1997 (in his iconic “Sunscreen” speech): “Prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old — and when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.”

In reality, street crime is at its lowest point in history, and today’s young people are often at the forefront of positive, global change. Still, our own childhood experiences shape how we think childhood should look — and for many parents today, that means climbing trees rather than scrolling screens.Yet technology is here to stay, and in many ways, it’s provided young people with new opportunities for connection, creativity, and community. While screens will never replace fresh air or exercise, recognising the permanence of technology helps us better understand a child’s perspective. And that understanding, grounded in empathy, is the foundation for meaningful, collaborative conversations rather than didactic ones.

Empathy-led, non-judgmental communication between you and your teen about the social media delay

The following examples are not prescriptive, only to model the key parts of the response:

● Validate emotions first, before offering reasoning or perspective.

● Phrases like “That makes sense,” “I can see why,” and “That must be hard” model empathy.

● The conversation remains open-ended — inviting reflection rather than shutting the teen down. “How, Tell me… , What do you think?”

● It models collaborative talk — both voices matter, even in disagreement.

Teen: I also can’t express myself on social media anymore — it’s where I post and follow stuff I like. I have tons of memories and reels I don’t want to lose.

Parent: That’s really important. Social media’s been your space to show who you are and what matters to you. Losing that outlet probably feels like losing a part of your identity. Maybe we can think together about other ways you can keep expressing yourself— even while the ban’s in place.

–

Teen: I’m just going to be bored all the time. I don’t know what else to do.

Parent: That’s understandable — you’re used to having that instant source of entertainment and connection. Adjusting will take time. We could brainstorm some things that might fill that gap or help you stay connected with your friends in new ways.

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Teen: It’s stupid - it won’t make that much of a difference. People will just find ways around it.

Parent: You might be right — sometimes rules like this don’t work the way adults hope they will. It’s frustrating when it feels like no one’s asking young people what actually helps. What do you think might work better than an outright ban?

–

Teen: No one in the real world gets me — I rely on online communities who get it (like LGBTQ+ groups or neurodiverse supports).

Parent: I can really understand that. It sounds like those online spaces are where you feel seen and accepted for who you are — and that’s incredibly important. I can imagine it feels scary or isolating to think about losing that kind of support.

Those communities clearly mean a lot to you. Can you tell me a bit more about what makes them feel safe or helpful? Maybe we can look for other avenues to keep that sense of connection, even if some online spaces become harder to access.

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Teen: This will just push everyone to less safe platforms

Parent: That’s a valid concern. Sometimes when one door closes, people end up on spaces that aren’t as well moderated. That’s definitely something adults should think through carefully. Do you think you will join unmoderated sites should they become available?

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Teen: How is this supposed to protect me - it feels like it’s just to limit my fun?

Parent: I think it’s meant to protect — but I can hear how it feels more like being limited. Both things can be true. You want freedom and trust, and adults want safety and wellbeing. It’s tricky finding the right balance.

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Teen: It just feels like adults don’t want us to have fun.

Parent: I get that. From your side, it probably looks like adults are taking away something you enjoy. But I don’t think it’s about stopping fun — I think they’re trying to figure out how to keep people safe in a world that’s changing really fast. Still, it would help if they actually asked you how it feels.

—

Teen: Honestly, it feels like this isn’t about wellbeing at all, it’s about control.

Parent: That’s a strong view and I hear what you mean. When decisions are made for you instead of with you, it can feel controlling. It sounds like what you’re asking for is to be trusted and included in the conversation. I want you to be part of this ongoing discussion, and hear your views. I also want to take the policy seriously as I believe it’s in your best interest. How about we brainstorm ways that can balance the two? Are there avenues you can use to raise your voice about this policy?