Why a social media ban is no silver bullet for child safety

In the digital age, the challenges of protecting children have drastically levelled up.

Social media, gaming and emerging technologies, including AI, have transformed how kids learn, socialise and express themselves. As such, governments and industry globally are grappling with how to keep up.

“We’ve replaced a play-based childhood with a phone-based childhood,” says ANU researcher Associate Professor Faith Gordon.

Gordon is a world-leading researcher of online harms and children’s rights at the ANU Law School and is currently the MacCormick Fellow at the University of Edinburgh Law School, which is a prestigious fellowship awarded to senior academics. Her research includes topics such as deepfakes, data misuse, and online radicalisation.

“The cost has been children’s wellbeing – we’re seeing a generation facing escalating levels of anxiety, depression, and harm online,” Gordon says.

“Sadly, this is not a marginal problem; it’s the new norm of childhood.”

The Australian Government has responded by announcing a policy to implement a social media ban for children under the age of 16, which comes into effect in December this year.

But a blanket social media ban is simply not going to keep our children safe in online spaces, says Gordon.

Instead, we need stronger digital governance and better resources to help people to safely interact with the digital world.

Online gaming: the elephant in the room

An eSafety Commissioner study reported 33 per cent of kids spent between 6.5 and 12 hours a week gaming online, while 33 per cent spent more than 12 hours a week gaming. 

But despite this, online gaming is currently exempt from the proposed under-16 social media ban in Australia.

Kids as young as toddlers are playing games online, and Gordon is concerned about the time it pulls those children away from healthy social development.

“What parents often see as harmless entertainment can become life-threatening,” Gordon says.

“Gaming addiction has destroyed families, stolen futures, and in some cases, led to devastating loss of life.”

Families often report breakdowns in communication, emotional withdrawal, and financial strain as children become increasingly absorbed in online gaming environments.

The lived experiences of affected children and families reveal a deeper story of isolation and disconnection. In severe cases, prolonged gaming sessions have been associated with physical health risks, including malnutrition and sleep deprivation.

The cultural phenomenon Grow a Garden is one such game. Grow a Garden is a farming simulator that has drawn in 21 million players since its launch in March 2025, thanks to its charming appeal for children, combined with addictive progression and community-driven play.

“Gaming companies have perfected psychological tricks to hook children,” Gordon says.

“Loot boxes are just gambling in disguise, exploiting impulse control and normalising risk at the youngest ages.”

These systems can be problematic as they normalise risk-taking and spending behaviours that can follow them into adulthood.

Advice to parents, guardians and carers

The detail behind the Australian Government social media ban policy is still in flux, but it is clear to Gordon that whatever the ban looks like, it will not eliminate all online risk for children.

Gordon’s extensive research has coined a new term ‘digital siblingship’, whereby older siblings in particular are playing a key role in guiding and mentoring younger children to navigate online risks like ‘unwanted content’ and ‘unwanted contact’, and also assisting them in making complaints to platforms.

She advocates for more resources to provide support for children: for themselves and to help them be equipped to teach the younger kids in their lives.

“Children need tools,” she says.

“Parents, carers, and grandparents need knowledge and confidence that our youth are safe.”

This is Gordon’s key advice for parents, guardians and carers:

Start with open conversation

• Talk regularly with your child about their online life, not just when something goes wrong.
• Ask what platforms, games, or apps they’re using and what they enjoy about them.
• Encourage them to come to you if something makes them feel uncomfortable, without fear of punishment.

Understand the digital world

• Learn about the platforms your child is using – each has different risks (e.g. cyberbullying, grooming, data tracking, exposure to harmful content).
• Use resources from child protection organisations, schools, or government agencies to stay up to date.

Model good digital behaviour

• Demonstrate positive online practices, like respecting privacy, thinking before posting, and switching off devices at night.
• Show that you too value time away from screens.

Teach critical digital literacy

• Help your child question what they see online: not all content is true, safe, or healthy.
• Discuss advertising, algorithms, and how platforms are designed to keep people engaged.
• Highlight the importance of protecting personal information.

Address emotional wellbeing

• Recognise that online harms – such as bullying, exclusion, or exposure to distressing content – can deeply affect mental health.
• Keep an eye out for changes in mood, sleep, or behaviour.
• Encourage offline friendships and supportive communities.

Know where to get help

• Familiarise yourself with local hotlines, online safety regulators (eg. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner), and reporting mechanisms on platforms.
• Seek professional help if your child is experiencing ongoing harm or distress.

Of course, the burden for child safety should not just rest on families.  In her delivery of a recent international conference keynote in Sri Lanka, Gordon called for urgent global reform to protect children’s rights online, just as strongly as they are offline. She states that this needs to be coupled with localised solutions.

To achieve safer online environments, Gordon argues that decisionmakers must build a world where AI and other digital technologies serve as tools for empowerment rather than exploitation.

She says: “Protecting children online is not just a legal necessity, it’s a moral imperative.”