CANBERRA, Australia—Following the under-16 social media ban, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant says her team will monitor the behaviour of young Australians to assess the impact on their well-being.
In exclusive comments to The Epoch Times, Inman-Grant said her team would not simply monitor whether children were staying off social media.
The studies will draw on indicators from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to gauge changes in health, learning, and daily behaviour.
“We’re working with 11 academics in Australia, the UK and U.S. to help us with this independent evaluation. It will be a longitudinal study that will include a theory of change. So what are the long-term, medium-term and short-term benefits,” Inman-Grant said.
The evaluation will also track whether teens sleep more, spend more time in face-to-face social activities, play more sport, read more, rely less on medication, or reduce overall phone use.
It will also examine shifts in NAPLAN results and other behavioural patterns to assess how the ban is influencing academic performance and wellbeing.
The first public report into children and teenagers’ well-being will be released three months after the law starts on Dec. 10, followed by quarterly updates.
Communications Minister Anika Wells also confirmed the establishment of a two-year “survey institute” inside the eSafety Commission to track the social, educational and health effects of the ban.
“It will see what the intended and unintended consequences look like, and how we can improve the law,” Wells told the National Press Club on Dec. 3.
She also stressed that findings from eSafety’s evaluation will directly shape the government’s statutory two-year review, saying the process will be “evidence-based” and transparent.
Under the new rules, platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube must remove under-16 accounts or face penalties of up to $50 million.
Preparing for Withdrawal
Wells acknowledged the psychological shock some teenagers will experience.She said the apps had been “deliberately designed with addictive features,” citing one of the most influential design tools.
“The co-creator of the infinite scroll feature, Aza Raskin, described his design as behavioural cocaine.”
She added: “Teenage addiction was not a bug, it was a design feature, and on 10 December, there are going to be withdrawal symptoms. Teenagers will be upset. Some will fight to get back on. Some will manage to find their way around the tech and keep their accounts. But I truly believe the short-term discomfort will be worth the long-term benefits.”
Wells said any young person feeling distressed should seek support through eSafety’s online resources.
“If you or someone you worry about feels disconnected, stressed or overwhelmed, there is strength in reaching out. Please go to esafety.com.au, where you will find helpful resources developed in consultation with youth mental health organisations, as well as links to websites, counselling hotlines and online chats.”
