25/11/2025
We’ve been watching closely as Australia moves toward banning social media access for teens under-16 and as mental health professionals, we see both the risks and potential benefits.
The downside?
• Research links excessive social media use to depression, anxiety, and poor sleep. 
• In Australia, around 45% of young people report hurtful or nasty online experiences — which can lower self-esteem and increase isolation. 
• Our kids can get trapped in comparison culture (“likes,” followers) and feel pressured to present perfect lives. 
But there’s a flip side:
• Social media can provide vital connection, especially for teens who feel marginalised or isolated. 
• According to Mission Australia, moderate use (1–3 hours/day) was linked to better wellbeing than very high use. 
➡️ What we think: The upcoming ban is an important step, but it’s not enough on its own. Instead of just cutting access, we need to help young people build healthy online habits and offer safe, real-world spaces to connect. This is a great time to teach our future generation the how, when, where of social media.
What we think needs to happen: Teach mindful social media use, support your teens in navigating digital spaces, and don’t be afraid to start the conversation.
If you or someone you know is struggling with social media anxiety or self-worth tied to online validation, we’re here reach out to us at Internal Sunshine. 💛
