In December 2024, the Australian parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024. This requires social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent users under 16 from having an account on their platforms, with age restriction requirements due to take effect by December 2025. 

The legislation’s core purpose is to safeguard the health and wellbeing of young people by limiting the impacts of online harm. It will support parents by shifting the responsibility of age verification to social media platforms and providing resources to help families navigate the changes. 

More information about this measure is available on the eSafety Commissioner site and forms part of a broader strategy the Federal Government is seeking to put in place to protect Australians online.   

Recently, series such as The Role of a Lifetime on the ABC have generated discussion around when is the right time for our students to have a smartphone and access to social media.   

This year the College will provide a range of information and resources to our families to ensure that, as a community, we are informed and can work together to help our young people use technology in an age-and-stage-appropriate way. 

As we all know, technology is here to stay and has provided so many benefits for young people and adults. Like all technologies—whether Atari, PlayStation, or television—young people need support in learning how to use them safely and appropriately as they grow into adulthood.