Wellbeing at TPS

New Social Media Age Restrictions
From tomorrow, 10 December 2025, the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 will require social media platforms to:
- prevent children and young people under 16 from having a social media account
- deactivate or freeze existing accounts held by people under 16.
Delaying access to social media protects the health and wellbeing of young people and gives them extra time to build real world connections and digital literacy skills.
The responsibility will be on the social media platforms, not parents, carers, children or schools, to implement these new restrictions.
Most popular social media platforms will be age restricted. These include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit and YouTube.
Messaging services and online games, as well as apps and platforms that support health and education, can still be used.
How to help under 16s prepare for the change
Parents and carers play an important role in supporting their children to be safe online.
To help get under 16s ready for the social media minimum age requirements, you can go to the eSafety website to learn more about the social media age restrictions and find tips on how to talk about social media age restrictions with young people.
What the change means for our school
At our school, all age-restricted social media platforms are blocked for student use on the school network.
To keep up to date about the new social media age restrictions, visit the eSafety website and subscribe to their newsletter.
Additional wellbeing supports available for all TPS families
- Ballarat Health Service Access and Triage, or call 1300 094 187 for urgent mental health support
- Suicide Call Back Service, or call 1300 659 467
- Lifeline, or call 13 11 14, or Text 0477 13 11 14
- Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARNor call 13 92 76
- Kids Helpline or call 1800 551 800
- Beyond Blue or call 1300 224 636
- Headspace or call 1800 650 890. Headspace also have online chat services that can be accessed at Online & phone support | headspace
- Grief & Loss - The Trauma and Grief Network (TGN) (anu.edu.au)
- Supporting primary school-age children through grief - Emerging Minds
- How to support your family and yourself through grief and loss - Emerging Minds

