A New Chapter for Digital Wellbeing: Navigating Australia's New Social Media Laws

Mr Nick Jones - Principal

As many of you are aware, significant changes are on the horizon regarding how young people in Australia engage with social media.

The Federal Government's new legislation, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, is a world-first initiative aimed squarely at protecting our children's mental health and online safety. With the new restrictions for under-16s set to come into force on December 10, 2025, this is a pivotal moment for our community to reflect on our digital habits and foster a healthier online environment.

At Cathedral College Wangaratta, the wellbeing of our students is paramount. While this legislation places the onus on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok to implement "reasonable steps" to prevent under-16s from having accounts, we as a school community, in partnership with you as parents and carers, play a crucial role in supporting our young people through this transition.

We understand these changes may bring a range of emotions, from anxiety to relief. This is an opportunity for a meaningful "digital reset" and a chance to reclaim aspects of childhood that have been impacted by constant digital pressure and comparison.

Strategies to Support Your Young Person at Home:

Open and Honest Dialogue: Have clear, calm discussions with your children about the new laws and the "why" behind them – focusing on mental health and safety, not punishment.

Collaborative "Digital Check-ins": Sit down with your child to review the apps they use, check privacy settings, and discuss screen-time habits. The eSafety Commissioner's website (esafety.gov.au) offers excellent resources and conversation prompts for families. We also encourage you to look at the SchoolTV resource, which is freely available on our College website.

Establish a Family Tech Agreement: Create shared expectations around device usage. This could include designated screen-free zones (e.g., bedrooms overnight, the dinner table) and scheduled breaks to encourage offline activities.

Gradual Reduction: Consider gradually reducing screen time before the December 10 deadline. Breaking habits incrementally can be less stressful for everyone involved.

Be a Role Model: Our children often mirror our behaviour. Show your commitment by reducing your own social media usage and demonstrating a healthy balance with technology.

Help with Data Download: Platforms will be required to deactivate existing under-16 accounts. Advise your children to download any data or cherished memories they want to save, as reactivation with data intact is not guaranteed.

Monitor Wellbeing: Be alert to signs that your child might be struggling with the changes, such as increased irritability, withdrawal from friends, changes in sleep patterns, or reduced interest in other activities.

The College will continue to embed digital literacy, online safety, and wellbeing strategies into our curriculum. Over the coming weeks, our focus will be on the new social media legislation, and we will work closely with our students to support them through this transition. We encourage all families to engage proactively with these changes, using this as a catalyst to support our young people in navigating the digital world safely and healthily.