The new social media age laws came into effect on 10 December, and since then we have been working closely with schools and young people to understand how these changes are affecting students in real time. Clear patterns are already emerging.
What parents need to know
The law applies to platforms, not young people
Young people are not breaking the law if they are on social media. Legal responsibility sits with social media companies. This distinction is critical for safety. Young people need to know they can ask for help if something goes wrong, without fear of punishment.
Staying connected still matters
Some young people are determined to remain connected on familiar apps, while others are moving to new or less familiar platforms. Online connection continues to play an important role in their social lives, which means guidance and education are essential during this transition.
Account access and data loss
Some platforms have removed or deactivated teen accounts. Others have restricted access, meaning young people may no longer be able to log in while their content remains visible. In these situations, young people can lose control of photos, videos and personal information they previously shared.
If your child still has access, support them to download their data, make accounts private, and remove identifying information where possible.
Advice circulating online
Young people are sharing tips such as changing account names or indicating that a parent manages the account. While some have maintained access temporarily, this is unlikely to continue as platforms increasingly use age-estimation technology, behavioural signals and account history to identify under-16 users.
Concerning trends we are seeing
We are observing some young people moving to platforms with weaker safety settings, using family members’ identification, or shifting activity to spaces parents are less aware of. These behaviours can increase exposure to scams, predatory contact and online harm.
Digital footprints still matter
Regardless of platform, core safety steps remain essential:
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setting accounts to private
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removing school and location details
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enabling two-factor authentication
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These actions significantly reduce risk.
Moving forward
Eyes Open Social Media Safety will continue working with students, families and schools to build strong privacy, security and digital decision-making skills that can be applied across any online environment.
We remain confident that education and informed decision-making are the strongest protections for young people navigating a rapidly changing digital landscape.
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