Feb 19, 2026 06:00:00

Australia's 'law banning the use of social media by people under 16' points out that it isolates children with disabilities

Australia's

new social media ban , which came into effect on December 10, 2025, has raised concerns that children with disabilities are losing connections with friends and communities and becoming isolated. Techdirt, an IT news site, reported that 'As was feared even before the law was introduced, children who have difficulty interacting face-to-face are more susceptible to the impact.'

'I've lost my friends': advocacy groups warn Australia's social media ban risks isolating kids with disabilities | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/06/ive-lost-my-friends-advocacy-groups-warn-australia-s-social-media-ban-risks-isolating-kids-with-disabilities

Australia's Social Media Ban Is Isolating Kids With Disabilities—Just Like Critics Warned | Techdirt
https://www.techdirt.com/2026/02/17/australias-social-media-ban-is-isolating-kids-with-disabilities-just-like-critics-warned/

This 'Law Prohibiting the Use of Social Media by Those Under 16' does not punish children or their guardians, but rather requires social media operators to take reasonable measures to prevent those under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. If operators do not take sufficient measures, they may be subject to punishment.

Techdirt pointed out that such age restrictions have a strong effect on 'children who are already prone to isolation.' The Guardian reported on the story of a 14-year-old girl with autism who had maintained friendships through social media, but felt 'friend-less' after her account was suspended due to the social media ban, cutting off all contact. Based on this report, Techdirt pointed out that 'a ban on social media for those under 16 could cut off real-life support.'

Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) , an organization that supports children with disabilities, also expressed concern about the uniform age limit. In a document submitted to the Senate (PDF file) , CYDA argued that for young people with disabilities, social media and the internet 'can be one of the few accessible ways to find community and make connections.'

The document also states that social media use by young people with disabilities goes beyond entertainment, serving as a platform for interaction and self-expression. It explains that online, they have more control over how they present themselves and can learn from others with similar experiences.

Another point of contention is age verification. Strict enforcement of age restrictions requires identity and age verification procedures, but depending on how the procedures are designed, it could easily exclude young people with disabilities. CYDA expressed concern that 'systems that require possession of a standard form of identification or a certain level of literacy or operational ability to use the system could raise the barrier to access.'

Furthermore, age restrictions may not be applied equally to everyone, and those who can circumvent the restrictions may continue to use the service, while those who follow the rules may be unable to use it first. If only those who are most affected by the age restrictions find it difficult to use the service, this would contradict the original purpose of the law prohibiting the use of social media by those under the age of 16, which is to ensure safety.

For children with disabilities, age restrictions can have side effects if social media is used as a way to connect with others. Techdirt pointed out that 'concerns that were warned about before the system was introduced are becoming a reality,' and called for a design that takes into consideration children who need support rather than a blanket ban.