In a world first, Social Media Restrictions commence in Australia this Wednesday 10 December and western area parents and carers of kids are bracing for the ban in more ways than one.

After a year of planning the teen social media ban is a reality and the world will be watching closely to see the results.

Children under the age of 16 will be restricted from using such platforms as:

• • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • Snapchat
  • X (formerly Twitter)
  • YouTube
  • Reddit
  • Twitch
  • Kick
  • Threads

Sally Sweeney, Head of Dolly’s Dream says the ban is not a magic wand [Image Dolly's Dream organisation]

Australia’s anti-bullying organisation, Dolly’s Dream, has called the government’s ban on social media move a ‘decent start’, but warns the delay alone isn’t a quick fix – particularly in outback areas where social media serves as a teen’s vital connection to friends.

“The social media delay isn’t a magic wand where kids will wake up and there’s no more bullying online. We’ve got to back it up by teaching our kids how to be safe and decent online, and we need to make sure there is proper support when things go wrong,” said Sally Sweeney, Head of Dolly’s Dream.

“Tech companies need to build online platforms and spaces that are safe for young people. We know the world is watching Australia right now, surely this a moment for them to act,” said Ms Sweeney.

While the majority of parents are looking at the move as a step forward in keeping kids safe, others say teens in the bush may be left feeling isolated.

Outback parents have differing views on social media ban.

One outback rural mother of teens says this may inadvertently affect bush kids in a negative way as they rely on these types of social media sites to connect with friends when they live on isolated stations after returning home from boarding school.

“While any initiatives to keep kids and teens safer online are a great start, I do worry that rural kids particularly could become more isolated,” said Alana Moller who helps run a large cattle station.

“Especially when we’re going into 8 weeks of school holidays, when many remote kids like mine will be returning home from boarding school. They may not see anyone their age for 2 months, so I’m not really sure what to expect in terms of the immediate impact of this said Ms Moller.

Some parents have elected not to allow social media for their kids full stop.

“We haven’t allowed our teen to have it in the first place and he fully understands why,” said mother of three Amy Edwards who lives on the farm 60 kilometres south east of Nyngan.

“There have been incidents where he has been glad to have not had it, where his friends have, and have seen bad news first with little information, but we’ve been able to sit him down and tell him first.

“It certainly means bullying for him stops as soon as he is out of the school gate, for his mates that’s not always the case.

“Unfortunately, the way they are going to manage this ban and how they will enforce it is not yet clear, but with the schools banning phones at school and the ban on social media it may give kids some much needed breathing space to simply be kids,” said Mrs Edwards.

A 15-year-old western area student says it is a problem for her, but she understands the why behind it.

“I am pretty cranky about the government taking away our means of communication, I think instead of taking it away they could educate everyone better, but I truly understand it.

“I have been bullied at times, but I have felt able to deal with it, but other kids who are not as lucky as me are probably feeling a whole lot of relief, which I can understand too.

“It will take a bit of getting used to but there are places we can go, so we just need to go with it I reckon,” she said.

Preparing to lose the use of their favourite apps, kids are already looking to other sites they can go and even talking about going old school and calling their friends on the phone.

While the ban may be easier said than done, with parents acknowledging it may not be 100 per cent effective, most parents are backing the move as a way of keeping kids safe. The ultimate goal.