Beyond the debate: toward pragmatic evaluation of Australia's social media age restrictions

Stevens, Matthew W. R. and Radunz, Marcela and Király, Orsolya and Griffiths, Mark D. and Delfabbro, Paul and Demetrovics, Zsolt and Czakó, Andrea and King, Daniel L. (2026) Beyond the debate: toward pragmatic evaluation of Australia's social media age restrictions. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH - WESTERN PACIFIC, 68. No. 101818. ISSN 2666-6065

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Abstract

Australia’s social media age restriction policy for those aged under 16 years presents substantial evaluation challenges regarding effectiveness. This viewpoint extends the critical discourse on whether the age restrictions are appropriate and/or feasible and examines practical approaches to assess consequences of the policy. Comprehensive evaluation should examine second- and third-order effects, such as changes in young people’s academic performance, digital literacy, mental and physical health indicators, and participation in alternative activities. Recognizing the challenges arising from similar policies in Asian regions, this viewpoint argues that age restrictions alone may achieve limited success without accompanying platform regulations based on safety-by-design principles. Social media restrictions may be less effective without regulations to enforce algorithmic transparency, duty of care obligations, and restrictions on user profiling. Rather than viewing this policy as an endpoint, Australia should establish rigorous long-term evaluation frameworks and consider regulatory approaches that address the structural incentives underlying harmful platform design.

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