Deputy Principal's Message

Welcome to Week 4. 

New Social Media Laws

From 10 December 2025, the Australian Government's new social media laws will come into effect. These laws are designed to help protect children and teenagers online and make social media companies more responsible for the safety of their users. These measures will change how social media platforms can be used by young people. 

What’s Changing?

The new rules apply to platforms that allow people to post, comment, message, or share content with others. Certain apps and websites will be officially classified as age-restricted social media platforms. These include:

• TikTok
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Snapchat
• X (formerly Twitter)
• YouTube: initially thought to be exempt, but later included under the rules.

These platforms will be required to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from having an account. They will also need to implement more effective age-verification measures, which will be overseen by the eSafety Commissioner.

Why These Changes Are Being Made

The goal is to help protect children from online risks such as:

• exposure to harmful or age-inappropriate content

• online bullying or unsafe interactions, and

• the mental health impacts linked to excessive screen time and social pressure.

The government and the eSafety Commissioner have said these new standards are about giving young Australians a safer digital environment to learn, connect, and play.

What This Means for Families

These new laws directly affect the kinds of apps primary-aged children can legally use. Parents and carers may notice:

• new age-verification checks appearing on popular platforms

• requests for parental permission or ID when setting up accounts, and

• some existing accounts for under-16s being reviewed or closed by the platform.

Find Out More

For up-to-date information, visit theeSafety Commissioner’s official pages:

• Social Media Age Restrictions: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions

• Online Safety Act Information: https://www.esafety.gov.au/newsroom/whats-on/online-safety-act

   

Are your details up-to-date?

If you have recently moved house, obtained a new phone number or email address, or your family circumstances have changed, please contact the office via email benvenue-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au or phone (02) 6772 4263 to update your details. 

Lana Howlett

Deputy Principal