Teens face a social media lockout — local police reveal reality of restrictions

Under-16s won’t be able to create or hold social media accounts, aiming to protect young people from pressures and risks they may be exposed to while logged in.

The restrictions are the first of their kind in the world, and it’s a change that has divided generations.

While the laws won’t be enforced by local police, Campaspe police youth specialist officer Leading Senior Constable Shane Roberts has spoken to over 1500 students about what the new rules are, what they aren’t, and how kids can continue to stay safe online.

“It's a big part of the way young people communicate,” Leading Sen Constable Roberts said about young people’s use of social media.

“I guess even more in rural communities … it's a big part of the way that they keep in touch with each other.

“Which can be okay, but it can also not be okay as well … we know that some of the content and what they're exposed to on some of those platforms can be really negative and harmful.”

The youngest person he has come across in his time was a Prep student who was using Snapchat.

“It's very young, really young — and you can imagine a kid as young as six, like they’re not going to comprehend or understand some of the stuff they’re seeing, but they can easily be led astray on there,” he said.

“That sort of reinforces why these changes have come.”

Leading Sen Constable Roberts said he hoped these changes would not only prevent young people from being exposed to negative content, but also reduce online bullying — an issue he had noticed sharply increase in the past couple of years as the world went online following COVID-19.

“Bullying and negative behaviour between kids has always been there, but now with the ability of social media — kids can actually just be exposed to it around the clock,” he said.

However, the biggest question on everyone’s mind remains: will the restrictions work?

For the short term, it’s well acknowledged that there will be difficulties as young people grapple with a world of limited social media access.

Other youth-targeted social media platforms have seen a sharp increase in popularity on Apple’s app store, with Lemon8 and Yope both making appearances in the top 20 of Australian free app charts.

But the Federal Government has been adamant that the list of social media platforms that will need to change their restrictions will grow.

Leading Sen Constable Roberts said young people were split evenly for and against the restrictions.

“Some kids are okay with it and say they can still contact mates using other methods — it's just not going to be through some of those other more common ones that kids are using,” he said.

“Then there's half that don't think it's fair and think this is a violation of rights.”

But, speaking with schools across the region, Leading Sen Constable Roberts said reducing online bullying was a long-term outcome all parties wanted.

“That is the end-game with it, that will see a reduction in bullying and mental health (problems),” he said.

Leading Sen Constable Roberts advised parents to get familiar with the changes and have honest conversations with their young people to help them understand them.

“I've done it with my kids — you have just got to be upfront with them and say, it's going to be really difficult for you to have access to these platforms, so we need to come out with other ways, or a system that's going to work for you, because it's going to change,” he said.

“If it creates those conversations at home, that's a massive win.”

For more information about the new restrictions or how to talk to your children about the changes, visit esafety.gov.au/