What Young People Said: Youth Consultation on the Social Media Ban

In 2025, the Commissioner for Children and Young People WA asked young Western Australians what they thought about Australia's new social media ban for children younger than 16. More than 100 young people responded, and their views were thoughtful, personal and wide-ranging.

Young people told us they want to be safe online. They also told us that social media is how many of them stay connected to friends, find communities where they belong, and access information and learning. For young people in regional and remote WA, it is often their primary link to the wider world. For LGBTIQA+ young people, online spaces can provide support that is simply not available to them offline.

Most young people who responded did not support the ban in its current form, though many acknowledged the intent behind it. They questioned whether a blanket restriction at age 16 is the right approach, and they came with ideas: better education, stronger platform accountability, and more targeted solutions that address harm without cutting off connection.

They also asked to be part of the conversation. Many said they were not consulted before this policy was developed, and that decisions about their digital lives should include their voices.