Age-led social media bans are not enough to prevent harm

Is the federal government's social media ban for under 16's enough to reduce digital harm? An RMIT expert argues that age limits alone miss the real risk - platforms designed to keep young people engaged - and that Australia should prioritise evidence-based, design-led regulation to build safer digital environments.

Associate Professor Vasileios Stavropoulos, Associate Dean, Higher Degree Research, Health and Biomedical Sciences

"The real question is not how old a young person is, but whether they are developmentally ready to navigate online environments that are designed to capture their attention.

"Many digital products rely on reward systems that keep users engaged far longer than intended, these design choices are not accidental, and they disproportionately affect young people.

"Some of the most damaging digital impacts are invisible: disrupted sleep, compulsive checking and emotional fatigue that accumulate long before a crisis becomes visible.

"Content moderation alone cannot address the structural features that make online spaces risky; safety needs to be built into the design architecture itself.

"Australia has an opportunity to lead globally by anchoring digital safety reforms in rigorous, conflict-free evidence, when researchers and policymakers work together, we can shape digital environments that genuinely support young people's wellbeing."

Asocciate Professor Vasileios Stavropoloulos is a clinical psychologist and researcher focused on harnessing the opportunities - and confronting the risks - of the digital revolution to improve wellbeing. He is Associate Dean HDR in RMIT's School of Health & Biomedical Sciences and a founding director of the Australian Games and Screens Alliance (AGASA) and the Australasian Cyberpsychology Network (ACORN).

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