Australia-led Social Media Restriction Study
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Jun 11, 2026 · Last updated Jun 13, 2026
The study's findings highlight potential regulatory risks for social media companies if more countries follow Australia's lead in restricting access for younger users. This could lead to reduced user engagement and advertising revenue from a significant demographic, impacting their stock prices. The increased focus on digital duty of care and accountability for algorithms could also lead to higher compliance costs for social media platforms.
A new study published in the Medical Journal of Australia by S. R. Vijayakumar, Susan M. Sawyer, and Sylvia C. Lin found that adolescents spending more than two hours daily on social media face a higher risk of mental health problems, particularly those aged 12 to 13. This research comes as the United Kingdom and other countries consider following Australia's law restricting social media access for under 16s. The study also indicates that Australia's law is influencing parents' views on children's social media use and highlights the need for continued support for older adolescents, including holding social media platforms accountable through measures like Australia's proposed digital duty of care reform.
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