As of December 10, 2025, Australia has implemented a mandatory minimum age of 16 for holding social media accounts, covering platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, X, YouTube, and others. The law, aimed at protecting young people’s mental health, requires platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent access, with potential fines for non-compliance.
ur Australian member Kids Helpline to contribute a special blog, providing us with their observations on the consequences of Australia’s new social media rules concerning under-16s.
While online worries are rising, young people trust Kids Helpline to be there
New data released by Kids Helpline for Safer Internet Day shows that online concerns among children and young people are still rising despite the recent under-16s social media ban, and more young people are turning to Kids Helpline when the digital world feels confusing, overwhelming, or unsafe.
What the data is telling us
Between November 2025 and January 2026, counselling contacts involving concerns about online activity increased for both younger teens and young adults. For 12 to 15 year olds, online concerns rose from around 5% in previous years to 6.7% this year. For 16 to 25 year olds, they increased from around 3% to 4% to more than 5%.
That tells us something important: online life isn’t a side issue for young people. It’s central to how they connect, learn and feel about themselves – and their experience is not simply restricted to social media channels.
What young people are reaching out about
Behind those statistics are conversations many of us will recognize.
Our counsellors are supporting young people dealing with cyberbullying, grooming, scams, exposure to harmful or adult content, and pressure to engage online in ways they don’t always feel ready for. We’re also hearing more questions about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence – tools young people are already using, often without clear guidance or safeguards.
These aren’t abstract concerns. They’re about friendships, identity, safety, and belonging – things that matter deeply, especially for younger teens.
Trust shows up in more than one place
What really stands out is that this trust doesn’t just show up in counselling contacts.
Alongside one-to-one support, we’ve seen increased engagement with My Circle, our moderated peer support platform. During periods of online change, young people actively seek out safe, reliable spaces to stay connected, share what they are feeling, and hear from others who understand.
They choose Kids Helpline-led spaces because they feel safe there. This choice matters.
Why this work matters so much
Taken together, the data from counselling and My Circle paints a clear picture. Kids Helpline isn’t just known to young people, it’s relied upon.
When things shift online, when rules change, or when young people feel uncertain, they know where to come to talk things through without judgment. That’s not accidental. It’s the result of consistency, care, and trust built over time.
The work we’re doing here at yourtown and Kids Helpline is a critical part of Australia’s mental health support system for children and young people. It doesn’t always make headlines, but it shows up every day in conversations, in communities, and in moments that mean everything to the young people reaching out.
Tony Fitzgerald
Head of Virtual Services
yourtown
Tony FitzGerald is also the Deputy Regional Representative for our Asia-Pacific Region.