Principal's Update

Angelika Ireland

Message from the eSafety Commissioner

Social media changes are coming

From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms won’t be allowed to let Australians under 16 create or keep an account.

What you need to know:

• The age restrictions are likely to apply to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X and YouTube, as well as other platforms. See the latest list.
• Under-16s will still be able to see publicly available social media content that doesn’t require logging into an account.
• Most standalone gaming and messaging apps, as well as many services that support health and education, will not be affected by the new law.

• There are no penalties for under-16s who access an account on an age-restricted social media platform, or for their parents or carers. This is about making the platforms take greater responsibility for the safety of children – they face fines of up to $49.5 million dollars if they don’t take reasonable steps to implement the changes.

   

Why the Changes?

The changes aim to protect under-16s from pressures and risks they can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts. These come from design features in the platforms that:

• encourage them to spend too much time on screens – for example, by prompting them with streams of notifications and alerts, and pressuring them to view disappearing content.

• increase the likelihood of exposure to negative, upsetting or manipulative content served up in their feeds by algorithms.

   

These features have been linked to harms to health and wellbeing – including increased stress levels, and reduced sleep and concentration. 

Of course, they are not the only risks on social media. Young people can also be exposed to harmful conduct such as cyberbullying, being asked for nudes and being sent pornography or violent material. 

The age restrictions are a delay, not a ban. You won’t have to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to social media accounts, instead you can say ‘not yet’, knowing other under-16s are also being prevented from creating or keeping accounts so your child won’t be missing out.  

The delay gives you extra time to talk about online safety and wellbeing with your child, to help them prepare for the risks and pressures of social media when they turn 16. It’s breathing space for them to build digital, social and emotional skills, and to understand the importance of reaching out for help if things go wrong.

What will happen to your child’s social media accounts?

Age-restricted social media platforms will have to take steps to find and remove or deactivate accounts held by under-16s. They are meant to do this in a way that is as safe and supportive as possible, within the guidelines of the law.  

To do this, eSafety has suggested to platforms that they give you clear instructions on how you can download, transfer or access your data, like saving your favourite posts, photos and important contacts. Visit the ‘Help’ or ‘Support’ section on the platform if you’re unsure what will happen to your account data. You can also check The eSafety Guide for advice on downloading content and protecting your personal information on common platforms, games, apps and sites.  

Platforms are meant to remove accounts belonging to under-16s. Instead of removing accounts, some platforms may deactivate them so they can be reactivated with all their existing data when you turn 16. But you shouldn’t rely on platforms to provide this option. It’s best to download any data you want to save, including connections, posts, chats, photos and videos, before 10 December. 

Follow the tips in eSafety’s Get-ready guide and action plan for under-16s, including how to save your most precious data and content.  

https://www.esafety.gov.au/young-people/social-media-age-restrictions/get-ready-guide

Read more at https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/social-media-age-restrictions

1:1 Laptop Program at Greenvale Primay School

As you may have heard in the media recently, the Department of Education has announced changes to the purchasing and use of digital devices within Victorian Primary schools. 

In 2026, Greenvale Primary School will continue using digital devices as part of our 1:1 Digital Technology Program. 

Students who have a 1:1 digital devices prior to 2027 will be able to continue to bring their devices to school, but we will be following the new recommended device use times. This means if parents purchase a laptop for a child who is currently in Year 3, they will be able to use it until the end of Year 6. 

For all other students at our school (current Foundation - Year 2 students) who would have been participating in our 1:1 Device Program from 2027 onwards, the Department of Education has announced the following:

From 2027, schools with students in Foundation to Year 6:

• must not invite families to purchase or bring their own student digital devices (digital devices include iPads and laptop computers) to use at school from Foundation to Year 6.

• should follow new recommended digital device times, including minimal device time for Foundation to Year 2; and a maximum of 90 minutes per day for Year 3 to 6.

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These reforms are aimed to reduce costs for families, limit unnecessary screen time, and strengthen student wellbeing and social connection.

Food For Thought: 

Regards

Angelika Ireland