The age children first use social media may be more closely linked to their mental health than whether they hold an account. New UNSW Sydney research suggests earlier exposure is associated with higher anxiety and depression symptoms among Australian adolescents.
The study surveyed 365 young people aged 10 to 15, alongside one parent for each participant. About 70% had used social media, while around half already had an account. The average age at which participants first used social media was 11.
“What surprised us was that the age children first started using social media appeared to matter more for their mental health than simply whether they had an account. It suggests that delaying children’s first exposure may be a promising policy, especially if paired with training good digital hygiene and citizenship during the delay,” Associate Professor Susanne Schweizer said.
Earlier exposure shows stronger association
Researchers surveyed participants during the six weeks before Australia’s under-16 social media restrictions took effect on 10 December 2025. They recorded participants’ first social media use, current account ownership, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Younger first use was associated with higher levels of both anxiety and depression symptoms. Simply having a social media account showed a weaker relationship with those measures. The observational findings identify an association rather than establishing that earlier social media use causes poorer mental health.
The findings add another dimension to debate around Australia’s social media age restrictions. Covered platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts.
For schools, the policy has also raised questions about student wellbeing, digital literacy and the practical limits of restricting access. Guidance on navigating the under-16 social media rules has increasingly focused on the role schools may play beyond enforcement.
“If we want to protect young people’s mental health, we need to think not only about whether they can access social media, but also about how young they are when they first start using it,” lead author and UNSW PhD candidate Anna Bilston says.
Students expected to find ways around restrictions
The survey also suggests that restricting accounts may not necessarily stop young people from using social media. Only one quarter of participants said they intended to stop using it after the new rules began.
Another 34% planned to continue using social media without an account. A similar proportion, 35%, said they intended to find a way around the restrictions and continue using their accounts.
“Most young people who intend to keep using social media expect to find ways around the restrictions, rather than simply waiting until they turn 16,” Associate Professor Schweizer said.
The findings support a broader question for educators about what students learn during the years before they can legally maintain social media accounts. Concerns around social media and student wellbeing have also increased pressure on schools to address online behaviour alongside access.
Research into digital skills and online participation has further complicated the debate by highlighting potential benefits as well as risks. That leaves schools balancing restrictions with efforts to build judgement and safer digital habits.
“As parents and educators, we have an equally important role in helping young people develop healthy digital habits and delaying their first use of social media.”
Researchers look beyond account access
Despite most participants expecting to continue using social media, the researchers said it was too early to assess the restrictions’ effectiveness. They said the policy may influence attitudes and conversations before producing measurable changes in behaviour.
“In behavioural science we often see attitudes change before behaviour, so it’s still too early to judge whether the policy has been successful. We are excited to follow up with these young people and their parents across the next 12 months,” Associate Professor Schweizer said.
The findings are the first published results from a larger Australian study following young people before and after the restrictions. Researchers will track changes in behaviour, attitudes, mental health and exposure to online harms over the next year.
A companion study also examined how older teenagers and young adults responded to online and face-to-face social interactions. In-person interactions generally left participants feeling more positive and included, although socially sensitive young people appeared to find online interactions easier.
“What this tells us is that young people’s online activity is more complex than simply ‘helpful’ or ‘harmful’. Some online interactions may play an important role, particularly for socially sensitive young people, even though face-to-face interactions remain important overall.”
The researchers said longitudinal data will be needed to determine whether delaying account access changes young people’s mental health or social media behaviour.
“This is one of the first opportunities anywhere in the world to understand what happens when a policy like this is introduced. We now need to follow these young people over time to see whether our teenagers benefit from the new restrictions, and what could be improved,” Associate Professor Schweizer said.