Australia’s social media ban, which took effect in December 2025, is leaving many teenagers with reduced access to news, according to new research published this month. The study surveyed 1,027 young people aged 10 to 17 in February and found that those most affected by the restrictions reported sharp drops in their news consumption and fewer chances to discuss current events.
Researchers tracked how the ban altered social media habits among under-16s who had previously used the restricted platforms. They discovered that 61 percent experienced little or no change in their usage, suggesting the policy has so far been largely ineffectual for the majority. However, the 26 percent who said their access was significantly disrupted told a different story.
Among that group, 51 percent reported getting less news directly because of the ban. The findings come from a longitudinal project that has followed young Australians’ news habits since 2017, providing a clear before-and-after picture of the legislation’s reach.
The drop in news engagement carries wider implications for civic participation. A separate 2025 report from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority showed that school students’ civics knowledge has fallen to its lowest level in 20 years of testing. At the same time, most young people continue to believe it is important to act on community issues that matter to them.
When social media access is curtailed, teenagers lose a key channel for learning about those issues and for sharing their own perspectives. Previous research by the same team found that news engagement helps young people feel more knowledgeable and better equipped to respond to problems around them.
“When young people are impacted by the social media ban they lose access to news about issues they care about,” the researchers noted. “They are also talking less about news and finding fewer opportunities to share their views or take other forms of action.”
Traditional news outlets have struggled to fill the gap. In the survey, 75 percent of respondents said news organisations have no idea what their lives are actually like, while 71 percent reported difficulty finding stories relevant to people their age. On an average day, only 1 percent of Australian news stories quote a young person, though young people appear in photographs and video ten times more often than they are heard.
Young Australians have long turned to social media precisely because mainstream coverage often stereotypes them or overlooks their priorities. Studies have shown that when teenagers do appear in breaking news, they are frequently portrayed as lazy, dangerous or entitled.
The research warns that as enforcement tightens and more loopholes close, the number of young people cut off from social media news will likely grow. This trend raises questions about how to maintain informed civic participation among the next generation.
Media literacy education is one proposed solution. Australia already includes media literacy in its national curriculum, and programs such as the ABC’s Behind The News and Squiz Kids are producing resources aimed at younger audiences. Experts argue that stronger investment in teacher training and classroom materials could help students evaluate sources and understand how quality journalism is produced.
News organisations themselves also need to improve representation, the study concludes. Fairer and more inclusive coverage could help rebuild trust among a demographic that currently feels unseen and unheard.
Family remains the most trusted news source for many young people, according to the ongoing longitudinal data. Parents play a central role in guiding children through the shifting media landscape, researchers said, and supporting them in navigating both online and offline information.
As the ban’s long-term effects become clearer, policymakers and educators face pressure to ensure teenagers do not simply lose touch with the news altogether. The February survey offers an early signal that greater success in restricting social media could come with measurable costs to news exposure and civic connection.