7 November 2025

Australia’s peak body representing paediatricians and public health physicians is urging the government to look beyond the upcoming social media ban for under-16s, saying it alone is unlikely to combat challenges like online bullying and poor mental health. 

A new position statement from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) – which represents over 6,000 paediatricians and paediatric trainees and over 800 public health physicians and trainees – says social media platforms must be made more accountable for content and create age-appropriate algorithms.

Dr Paul Hotton, President-Elect of the RACP’s Paediatrics and Child Health Division, said attention also needed to be paid to creating alternative spaces for community, connection and expression.

“As paediatricians and adolescent medicine specialists, we see a range of impacts of social media – both positive and negative,” Dr Hotton said.

“On the negative side you have bullying, sleep issues, impacts on cognitive development, exposure to inappropriate content and misinformation, and so forth.

“The ban may protect teenagers from those negative impacts for a little longer – and that’s a good thing – but there needs to be more education and support to prepare them for healthy online use into young adulthood.”

Last month, some platforms announced new systems to limit the types of content teenage users see. The RACP is calling for any such systems to be backed up by government regulation or legislation, so that platforms are held formally accountable.

“Platform-led age restrictions on content are welcomed but we need a regulatory or legislative framework to underpin them and that’s where the government comes in,” Dr Hotton said.

“We see this as the next step for the government as part of a bigger-picture public health approach to safe and healthy social media use.”

The RACP is also calling for more investment in education and support for young people and their families to use social media safely, as well as investing in alternative opportunities for connection and community. 

“We need to ensure that children who can struggle to find a sense of belonging or connect offline still have opportunities online to do that. Whether that’s trans and gender diverse children or children living in the country – we need to be talking to them about what they need to feel connected, safe and seen.

“The eSafety Commissioner has consulted with young people on these issues and we support their work to protect the safety of children and young people.”