Credit: Aedrian Salazar via Unsplash
Moderate social media use, rather than a total under 16s ban, has been linked to better teen wellbeing, according to Australian research .
The Adelaide University study also found no access at all can be as harmful as excessive use.
The ban, which came into effect in December 2025, prohibits under-16s from platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit and YouTube.
Non-compliant platforms face fines of up to $49.5 million AUD.
The Human Rights Commission has also challenged the ban, warning it risks isolating young people from their peers.
"Social media is integral to modern communication and socialisation. Excluding young people from these platforms may isolate them from their peers and limit their ability to access much-needed information and support," wrote the Human Rights Commission.
The Adelaide University study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, drew on data from more than 100,000 Australian children across grades four to twelve and found up to 12.5 hours of social media use per week was associated with positive wellbeing outcomes.
Heavy use and no social media at all were both linked to poorer results.
Lead author Ben Singh from Adelaide University said teenagers' relationship with social media was complex and varied by age and sex.
"Public debate often frames social media as being harmful to teenagers' wellbeing, but our findings suggest the reality is far more nuanced," said Singh.
"For girls, we found that moderate use of social media was linked to better wellbeing in their middle teenage years (grades 7-9; ages 12-15) and onwards.
"It was the opposite for boys, with those not using social media as they grew older at risk of poorer wellbeing."
Singh said the data pointed to moderation rather than prohibition as the healthiest pattern.
"Teenagers who reported the greatest social media use after school were consistently more likely to experience low wellbeing, including higher levels of sadness, worry and difficulty managing emotions," he said.
"What the data points to is moderation, not extremes, as the healthiest pattern overall.
"Helping teenagers find a healthy middle ground may be more effective than a blanket ban or total avoidance."
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