Social Media Changes

Dear MECS Families,

You may have heard about an upcoming change that will affect social media access for children under 16. From 10 December 2025, social media platforms in Australia will need to prevent children under 16 from creating or keeping accounts.

The goal of this change is to help children stay safer online and give them time to build the skills and confidence they need before joining wider social media spaces.

Platforms likely to be affected include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Threads, Reddit, and others.

What this means for your child

• They may no longer be able to use certain social media platforms until they turn 16.
• It’s a good opportunity to discuss safe online use, feelings about social media, and alternative ways to connect with friends.
• You can use this as a chance to review household agreements around screen time and device use.

Resources to support you and your child

• eSafety Social Media Age Restrictions: https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions
• eSafety Parent Guide and Conversation Starters: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
• eSafety The hard-to-have conversations guide: The hard-to-have conversations | eSafety Commissioner
• Review and age recommendations of commonly used apps:Online Safety Hub - Mount Evelyn Christian School (VIC)

Some practical things that we can do to prepare:

• Check which social media apps your child currently uses.
• Have a simple, honest chat about the upcoming change and why it’s happening.
• Use it as an opportunity to review or set household rules for screen time and device use.
• Explore safe alternatives for connecting with friends, online or offline.
• Use eSafety guides for tips and conversation starters: eSafety Parents
• Notice and support your child if they feel frustrated or disappointed.

We encourage you to look at these resources as they have helpful tips for starting conversations with children, practical ways to manage online safety, and ideas for fun, safe ways to stay connected.

In a couple of weeks we will also be sending out information about an at home filtering tool, [http://Online Safety Hub - Mount Evelyn Christian School (VIC)] Qustodio. We have partnered with Qustodio and you are able to create a free account that will be able to be used on the MECS laptops (Y7 and above) as well as one personal device per MECS student.

Warm regards,

Malcolm Pirie

Head of Primary