Teenagers in regional Western Australia are bracing for greater loneliness and disconnection after the federal government’s upcoming social media ban for under-16s, with mental health experts warning the policy could hit marginalised and remote youth hardest. The ban begins 10 December 2025.
What the ban entails & who it affects
- The policy prohibits children aged 16 and under from using social media platforms unless they have parental consent.
- It responds to concerns over cyberbullying, online harms, and mental health risks among young people.
- While intended as a blanket measure, many believe it does not account for the unique role social platforms play in regional and remote communities.
Regional teens say connection, belonging, will suffer
- Headspace manager Andrew Wenzel, in Albany (some 400 km south of Perth), says the ban threatens crucial lines of connection for kids returning to farms or living in remote areas: “Social media means connection, it means education, it means sources of inspiration and laughter — particularly for kids in country areas…”
- For neurodivergent youth and those from the LGBTQIA+ community, regional isolation is magnified when digital platforms are removed. Platforms often serve as emotional and peer support networks in places where in-person connections are limited.
Experts weigh pros and cons
- Child psychologist Emily Crawford argues the ban could act like a “pause” from social media, offering children time to develop healthy habits and impulses. However, she notes that for many rural families, lack of online connection will feel like a removal rather than a break.
- Organizations representing neurodivergent young people and regional LGBTQIA+ youth have raised concerns that the policy fails to address their particular needs. In many cases, online spaces have been lifelines.
Risks & challenges ahead
- Increased mental health pressures for those who lose connection with friends, mentors, supportive communities.
- Risks of digital divide growing larger, as urban youth may adapt more easily to alternative forms of connection than regional peers.
- Loss of access to educational content, community belonging, and creative outlets often accessed via social platforms.
- Enforcement difficulties: ensuring parental consent, monitoring use, and dealing with impacts on family structures.
What regional communities and policymakers should watch
- Implementation clarity — how parental consent will work in practice, especially in remote areas where families may have unreliable internet or limited oversight.
- Support structures — increased investment in offline community centres, youth services, mental health outreach in regional and rural WA.
- Alternative platforms — whether safe, moderated digital alternatives could be offered where full platforms are restricted.
- Monitoring mental health outcomes — tracking rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness among regional youth before and after ban.
- Voices of regional youth — ensuring those directly affected are heard in ongoing policy discussion and adjustments.
