Social Media: We will Destroy Childhood with the Internet
- Mable Green
- Jan 27
- 3 min read
Protecting our children from the effects of the Social Media should, in part, be the responsibility of those who created it. It's not fair to expect parents to take the most significant role in safeguarding their children when the algorithms take our children down uncontrolled rabbit-holes. Safeguarding laws are in place to protect children. Why is the Government not leaning on Social Media companies to put guardrails to protect the younger generation?
🧩 Key Takeaways from Worldwide Research
Aspectis are linked with anxiety, depression, and is linked with anxiety, depression, and | Evidence Summary |
Mental Health | High usage linked with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem; moderate use may have social benefits. |
Cognition | Excessive use is tied to poorer attention/executive functions; targeted educational use can aid memory/learning. |
Safety & Exposure | Algorithms frequently expose kids to harmful/unsafe content despite moderation systems. |
Social & Emotional | Many teens feel more connected and creative, but also experience drama, exclusion, and pressure. |
In December 2025, Australia became the first country to introduce a social media ban for users under 16 years of age.
An amendment to the Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth) set a minimum age requirement for users of specified social media platforms – currently these are Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube. Most standalone gaming and messaging apps, as well as many services that support health and education, are not age-restricted.
The Act requires providers of those social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent users under 16 years of age from obtaining or maintaining accounts with the platform. A provider which fails to take such steps may be subject to a civil penalty of up to AUD 49.5 million (USD 33 million).
📉 Disadvantages of Social Media (Negative Impacts)
🧠 Mental Health Challenges
Systematic reviews show that frequent social media use is strongly associated with anxiety, depression, and lower self-esteem in children and adolescents, particularly with high levels of engagement. Social support and offline relationships help buffer these effects, but risks remain significant.
🔍 Attention & Cognitive Effects
An extensive longitudinal study found that social media use correlated with an increase in inattention symptoms over time in children aged 10–14, an effect distinct from watching videos or gaming.
A systematic review also highlights that excessive use may impair attention, working memory, and executive function — though some platforms can support language learning or memory in particular contexts.
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📱 Addictive Patterns & Emotional Fatigue
Multinational research (Singapore, Australia) reports that prolonged social media use is associated with emotional fatigue, compulsive behaviours, and difficulty sustaining focus, suggesting that algorithm-driven design impacts cognitive self-regulation.
📢 Exposure to Harm & Unsafe Content
Algorithm audits show that current moderation systems frequently fail to prevent harmful or distressing short videos from being shown to young users, indicating structural weaknesses in platform safeguards.
Another research project focusing on TikTok found substantial exposure of children’s content to appearance-focused or inappropriate comments, highlighting privacy and safety issues. Extremist Ideology is then continually funnelled onto the platform through algorithms.
📉 Academic & Behavior Effects
• Some studies link heavy use with reduced academic engagement and a shift away from reading, sports, and arts among adolescents — although causality can be complex.
🌟 Advantages of Social Media (Social Benefits)
🤝 Social Connection & Support
• Many young people report that social media helps them feel connected to friends, maintain relationships, and find peer support — especially in communities where they might feel isolated offline.
About half of teens say social platforms give them a sense of acceptance and social backing, even though these numbers may be declining slightly compared to earlier years.
🎨 Creativity & Expression
A large share of teens say social media is a place to show creativity and express themselves, which the research highlights as benefits for exploring thier identity and creative endeavours. Teens, Social Media and Mental Health
🧠 Educational Engagement
Although research is still emerging, some social media use — when tied to educational content, discussion, or peer collaboration — can support language development and educational memory skills. Many children who are unable to access the mainstream curriculum use apps and programs to support their learning and executive functioning skills, helping them lead independent lives.
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