How parents can help kids stay connected safely
On 10 December 2025, in a world first, Australia’s new social media laws took effect, with social media platforms — including TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube — required to take “reasonable steps” to prevent children younger than 16 from having an account on their platform. As Australia learns to adjust to the social media ban for under-16s, children are worried about losing touch with their friends. But while the onus is on social media platforms to act, researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) say the real battle will be at home, where parents must enforce the rules, manage their children’s reactions and help them adjust.
Child safety and wellbeing expert, UniSA Associate Professor Lesley-Anne Ey, says the key to a smoother transition is education, reassurance and open, age-appropriate conversations — and she’s offering practical advice to help parents. The first step, she says, is understanding why social platforms matter to kids.
“Many children and teens use apps such as Snapchat and TikTok to connect with their friends,” Ey says. “They’ve grown up with this technology — it’s part of who they are — and they’re used to communicating through videos, emojis, photos and filters.
“Kids may feel like they’re facing a social penalty where they won’t be able to connect with their friends in the same way. The fear of losing touch with friends is real, so parents will need to invite questions and show understanding and empathy about what their kids will see as a loss.
“Brainstorm alternative ways to stay connected. If they liked TikTok dances, an app such as Just Dance could suit. If they want to chat, use closed group chats or messaging apps. And if they enjoy gaming, find multiplayer games where they can connect safely.
“Supporting kids through this is about empathy and keeping the lines of communication open.
”While the new legislation aims to protect kids from harmful content, Associate Professor Ey says its success depends on what happens at home — through education and consistent guidance. “Parents should talk with their children about online safety: why it’s important to protect personal information such as your full name, address and passwords; who it’s okay to connect with; and how to behave kindly and respectfully,” she advises. “They should also teach kids to think before they post anything — photos, comments or information — because once something’s online, you can’t take it back.
“Young brains are especially vulnerable to social media because they crave peer feedback and attention. This makes them more likely to take risks or react quickly without thinking about the consequences.
“Encourage kids to ask ‘Would I say this to someone’s face?’ or ‘Would I show this to my mum?’ before posting or commenting. If the answer is ‘no’, then it’s probably not appropriate.
”With rising rates of online bullying, coercion and sexual extortion, or “sextortion”, researchers say it’s vital that parents take the ban seriously. “The social media ban isn’t ‘safetyism’, or evidence of a ‘Nanny State’. It’s an essential move to protect kids from online predators and risks,” Ey explains. “Parents should educate themselves about the platforms and games their kids use so they can have informed conversations. Non-judgmental, ongoing dialogue is essential.
”As children tend to imitate adult behaviours, parents can also be powerful role models. “Avoid excess screentime yourself and set up screen-free times for the whole family, such as dinner and bedtime. This makes boundaries predictable and shows your kids what a healthy balance looks like,” Ey advises.
“Connect with your kids. Show them how you can have fun together — whether that’s board games, movie nights or taking advantage of daylight savings for a bike ride after dinner.
“The convenience of screens and social media has caused havoc. Perhaps we all need to wind the clock back and remember what life was like before screens. It’s time we took control — for our sake and for the safety and wellbeing of our kids.”
Keeping kids safe online starts at home
While the onus is on social media platforms to prevent underage access, child protection experts at the University of South Australia say the conversation about online safety doesn’t stop there. Associate Professor Ey says parents and schools must continue online safety conversations, so children can navigate the digital world safely and responsibly, no matter what their age.
“Parents are the first line of defence to protect children online,” says Ey. “From the moment children start using devices, parents need to be having age-appropriate conversations about the content they access and how they interact and behave online. This should include understanding privacy, who to ‘friend’, the open nature of the internet and how anything they post — from text to photos or videos — may remain online and accessible for years.
“We also need to be talking openly about risks. We should be labelling harmful behaviours, including sexting, AI-generated deep fakes, online bullying and grooming, and helping children understand the legal and psychological impacts of their actions.
“Because children’s brains are still developing, they often act on impulse without considering the consequences. They’re naturally more inclined to take risks and assume they’re safe, but the reality is they’re not, and they need strategies to protect themselves.
”The legislation intends to protect young people from being exposed to social media content that could be damaging to their health and wellbeing at too young an age. While legislation is one part of the solution, Associate Professor Ey says the real impact lies in building digital literacy across all platforms.
“Online safety isn’t a one-off talk or an age restriction to delay use,” Ey explains. “It’s an ongoing conversation between schools, families and children to help them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
“While the social media restrictions will certainly help, children will still be playing online games, joining chat groups, sharing photos and sending videos and texts, so it’s vital that they’re equipped with age-appropriate tools to navigate these spaces safely.
“Education is key: we need parents and teachers to have the skills and knowledge to support children; we need ongoing training to understand the risks and benefits of new technologies; and we need ways to empower young people to use these technologies to enhance, not limit their lives.
“Crucially, we must ensure that children and young people know they have a safe, trusted person to turn to if they feel worried about something they’ve seen or heard online.
“Because in the end, it’s not just about keeping children off social media, it’s about giving them the knowledge, confidence and skills to thrive safely in a digital world that will only keep growing.”
Screens that do good: how digital tools can help kids and teens stay healthy
Mobile phones and endless screen time are the bane of parents the world over. But while technology is often blamed for poor health in children and teenagers, new University of South Australia research suggests that the same devices could also be part of the solution.
In the largest global analysis of its kind, UniSA researchers reviewed data from more than 133,000 young people (aged under 18 years), finding that health apps, wearables and interactive programs can help improve physical activity, diet and weight outcomes for children and teens.
The researchers found apps and wearable technology delivered:
• More movement: Kids using digital health tools were more active overall, with noticeable boosts in moderate and vigorous physical activity. This translates to roughly 10–20 extra minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity each day.
• Better diets: Apps and online programs helped children eat more fruit and vegetables and cut back on fatty foods.
• Healthier weight: While the changes were small, participants showed steady improvements in body weight and body fat levels.
• Less sitting: Some programs helped children and teens spend about 20–25 minutes less per day sitting or on screens.
• Sleep unchanged: There was no clear evidence that digital tools improved sleep. Some technologies worked better than others: mobile apps had the greatest impact on diet and weight outcomes, while wearables (such as fitness trackers) were most effective for reducing sedentary time.
Additionally, exercise programs that were shorter (eight weeks or less) had the biggest effect on boosting activity, while longer programs (running 12 weeks or more) were better for weight management.
Lead researcher, UniSA’s Dr Ben Singh, says electronic health (e-Health) and mobile health (m-Health) interventions show strong promise for promoting healthy behaviours among children and teens.
“Even though most young people know the importance of eating well, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep, many still fall short of the recommended health guidelines, putting them at greater risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease,” Dr Singh says.
“Digital health tools such as wearables, fitness apps and online programs could help turn this around by motivating kids to be more active and eat better.
“Our research shows that digital health tools and apps can significantly improve children’s physical activity, diet and weight outcomes, putting them on a better health trajectory for life.
“Because children and teens have grown up with technology, they’re naturally open to using apps. They’re accessible, engaging and easy to scale, which makes them a great choice for schools and community programs to promote healthier lifestyles.”
According to the World Health Organisation, 80 per cent of teenagers do not meet recommended levels of physical activity, with 390 million children (5-19 years) classified as overweight, including 160 million with obesity. In Australia, one in five children are overweight or obese, with less than a quarter of children (five to 14 years) getting an hour of physical activity each day.
This systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis combined 25 systematic reviews to assess how digital health tools, such as mobile apps, text messages, wearables, active video games and web-based programs, can influence physical activity, sedentary behaviour, sleep, diet and weight outcomes.
Dr Singh says policymakers and educators can use these findings to embed digital health tools into wellbeing strategies for children and teens, helping to build healthier lifelong habits.
“We know that features such as gamification, tailored messaging and machine learning can boost engagement,” Dr Singh says. “By integrating evidence-based apps and wearables into schools, primary care and community programs, we can make healthy habits more appealing and accessible for young people.
“This review brings together global evidence to understand when and how these tools work best. Short bursts of programs are ideal for lifting activity levels, while longer ones are better for weight management. “These online tools worked as well as, and sometimes better than, traditional in-person health programs. Combining digital tools with light human support — from teachers, parents or health coaches — can also help keep motivation high.
“If we can encourage the use of healthy digital tools from a young age, we have a real opportunity to help children and teens form healthier habits that last a lifetime.”
What parents need to know about guiding kids through the social media ban:
More Information
For more information on Australia’s social media age restrictions, visit the eSafety Commissioner’s website: esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions-hub