eSafety's early findings on social media restrictions offer lessons for the early childhood sector

Australia's first evaluation of the nation's social media age restrictions has found that many children continue to access age-restricted platforms despite new laws. While the research focuses on children aged 8–15, it highlights the importance of building safe digital habits well before children reach adolescence.

Australia's eSafety Commissioner has released the first findings from its evaluation of the country's social media age restrictions, providing an early picture of how the reforms are affecting children and families. 

The report found that account ownership among children aged 8–15 fell following the introduction of the restrictions. However, a substantial proportion of children continued to hold accounts because they had not been asked to verify their age or were able to bypass platform controls. 

The findings suggest that while the legislation has reduced account ownership, technology platforms remain central to its effectiveness. The evaluation also found important differences in how individual platforms implemented the requirements. 

Although the report focuses on older children, it carries broader implications for early childhood education and care.

Increasingly, services are supporting families to establish healthy digital habits before children enter primary school. Conversations about appropriate technology use, respectful online behaviour and safe engagement with digital devices often begin during the early years, well before children become eligible for social media accounts.

The findings also reinforce the importance of working with families to build digital literacy rather than relying solely on technology platforms to manage children's online experiences.

This aligns with eSafety's existing work with the early childhood sector. An evaluation of the organisation's Early Years resources found educators reported greater confidence discussing online safety with children and families after completing professional learning modules, while parents said they felt better equipped to support their children's online safety. 

For ECEC services, the latest report is less about social media itself and more about the role early learning settings can play in helping families establish positive digital practices from the earliest years. As children's exposure to digital technologies continues to evolve, partnerships between educators and families remain an important part of supporting children's wellbeing both offline and online.

Read the full report here.