"Recent years have seen alarming increases in youth self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Parents, educators, and mental health experts are naturally concerned, and many blame social media. Governments have begun taking notice as well. In Australia, for instance, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill will soon make it illegal for young people under 16 to access major social media platforms, effective December 2025."
"Australian policymakers have certainly justified the bill as a way of creating a digital "seatbelt moment" to protect young people in an online world that often ignores mental health. But is this necessarily the case? A new viewpoint article recently published in the journal Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention has raised concerns about the bill and whether it might do more harm than good."
Youth self-harm and suicidal thoughts have increased alarmingly, prompting policy responses and public concern. A proposed Australian law will ban access to major social media platforms for people under 16 starting December 2025 to reduce exposure to cyberbullying, unrealistic beauty standards, and self-harm content. Concerns exist that a blanket ban could isolate vulnerable adolescents who depend on online networks for understanding, empathy, and belonging, particularly marginalized groups. Safer alternatives include “safety by design” platform requirements and comprehensive prevention strategies. Effective youth suicide prevention requires broader action across communities, services, and digital design rather than sole reliance on access restrictions.
Read at Psychology Today
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