Tomorrow, Things Change: A New Chapter for Australian Families
Tomorrow, Australia becomes the first country in the world to introduce legally enforceable age restrictions for social media. It marks a profound shift – a nation taking a stand to protect children in a digital environment that, for too long, has been shaped entirely by commercial interests rather than child safety.
And while the rollout may not be perfect from day one, it is nonetheless one of the most significant public-health reforms for young people we’ve seen in decades. More importantly: it is a beginning.
At Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA), we have long witnessed the unseen cost of the digital world on families. We hear the same stories from parents in every suburb, every region, and every demographic: confusion, fear, exhaustion – and the quiet heartbreak of not knowing what your child is being exposed to online.
Tomorrow, things change.
A Reform Rooted in Lived Experience
My own advocacy for stronger digital protections began, like so many advocacy stories, inside my own home.
My daughter, Charley, was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa at 15. Her six-year recovery journey was the hardest chapter of our family’s life. And although she has always been clear that social media did not cause her illness – eating disorders are complex, multifactorial conditions – she has spoken openly about how platforms made her recovery infinitely harder.
What I did not know, until years into her illness, was that she had a secret Instagram account filled with pro-Anorexia content. Like so many parents, I believed I was watching closely. But the reality is that the algorithms knew my child’s vulnerabilities far more intimately than I ever could.
And Charley is far from alone.
In an EDFA survey of our families, 81% of parents and carers told us they believed social media contributed to their loved one’s eating disorder or hindered their recovery. These are not isolated stories. They are a national pattern.
Why Tomorrow Matters
For the first time, social media companies operating in Australia will be required to keep children under 16 off their platforms. And they will be held accountable for this action. For the first time, we will have a clear, enforceable boundary that recognises that children do not belong in high-risk online environments designed for adults.
This is not about denying young people technology. This is about delaying exposure to a system they are not developmentally equipped to navigate safely.
And it is just one part of the larger national effort Australia has now committed to.
The government is also working on further reforms, including a future Digital Duty of Care and new safeguards around AI-generated content, which will be introduced in the next stages of regulation.
None of this is about censorship, nor is it government overreach.
This is about acknowledging a simple truth: children cannot be expected to navigate an environment that was never designed for them.
The Harm Has Been Clear for Years
We now have growing evidence showing that early and unregulated social media exposure is linked to:
- anxiety and depression
- self-harm and suicidal ideation
- severe body dissatisfaction
- eating disorders
- online grooming
- sleep disturbance and concentration problems
- escalating pressure to conform to digitally altered, AI-created or algorithmically amplified beauty ideals
Teenagers are not fragile – the systems surrounding them are predatory.
And despite the loud voices claiming “parents should just monitor their kids more closely,” we must be honest:
Parents cannot compete with billion-dollar algorithms engineered to capture attention, trigger reward-seeking behaviours, amplify insecurity, and encourage obsessive comparison.
This is why systemic reform, not parental vigilance alone, is essential.
A Proud Moment of Leadership
In September, I had the privilege of travelling to New York at the invitation of the Prime Minister to attend Australia’s presentation at the United Nations on our social media reform plan. Standing in a room filled with world leaders and hearing Australia outline a bold, principled approach to protecting children was extraordinary.
For the first time in a long time, I felt genuine hope and immense pride.
Not hope that everything would suddenly be fixed.
Not hope that tech companies would suddenly change their values.
But hope that we, as a nation, had found the courage to draw a boundary.
And perhaps most importantly: this reform was bipartisan. The Let Them Be Kids campaign helped elevate community concern, the Federal Opposition put forward the initial minimum-age proposal, and the Government then developed and implemented the laws. This is what happens when leaders choose to put children above politics.
It Won’t Be Perfect - And That’s Okay
Like seatbelts, tobacco laws and drink-driving reforms, the first version of any major public-health intervention is rarely perfect.
There will be technical issues.
There will be loopholes.
There will be young people determined to get around the rules.
And there will certainly be critics.
But perfection was never the goal.
Protection is.
What matters most is that we are taking decisive action based on evidence and lived experience – and that this step paves the way for continuous improvement.
Every major reform in history began with a line in the sand. Tomorrow, Australia draws that line.
The Real Work Starts Now
If these reforms are going to create the change our children deserve, three things are essential:
1. Help parents build the confidence to navigate the change together.
This reform isn’t just about switching off apps. It’s a shift in how we relate to technology as a family. Parents will benefit from accessible guidance on starting honest conversations, listening patiently to their child’s feelings, and modelling balanced digital habits themselves. Holding the line means supporting children without guilt or shame – and creating a space for new, healthier habits to grow.
2. Accessible support for those already impacted.
Thousands of families are living with the consequences of online harm right now. EDFA hears their stories every day – children trapped in endless comparison cycles, targeted with body and muscle dysmorphia content, teens whose sleep, confidence and relationships deteriorate under constant digital scrutiny. These families need support now, not later.
3. Ongoing political will.
Tomorrow cannot be the end of the conversation. It must be the beginning of a long-term national plan for digital safety, algorithmic transparency, and AI-generated content regulation.
Why This Matters for Eating Disorder Prevention and Recovery
Eating disorders thrive in secrecy, comparison, and pressure – the exact conditions social media amplifies. Eating disorders can affect people of any age, but the burden is especially high among adolescents and young adults – the very age groups most immersed in digital environments.
Restricting harmful content and delaying early exposure won’t eliminate eating disorders. But it will reduce triggers, lessen vulnerability and support recovery. It will give young people more time to develop the emotional, cognitive and social skills they need before entering the online world.
It is, simply, a protective factor – one we cannot afford to ignore.
Tomorrow, Things Change - And Change Brings Hope
When families wake tomorrow, the digital world will not suddenly be safe.
But it will be safer.
And over time – as more nations follow our lead, as platforms face more pressure to adapt, as regulations strengthen, and as evidence mounts – we will be able to look back on this moment as the day Australia said:
Enough. Enough harm. Enough manipulation.
Enough treating children as data points instead of human beings.
Tomorrow, things change. Tomorrow, Australian families take back some of the power that for too long has rested entirely with Big Tech.
And tomorrow begins a new chapter: one where children’s wellbeing finally comes first.
EDFA Executive Director Jane Rowan
Extra resources for parents and young people:
“The Social Media Reset: A Conversation for Parents” FREE Information Session
Social Media Reform Hub: clear, up-to-date information, helpful resources, and practical guidance.
About Eating Disorders Families Australia
Eating Disorders Families Australia (EDFA) is the only national organisation solely for carers and families of those with an eating disorder. EDFA provides support, EDucation, advocacy, and FREE online counselling services and annual membership. EDFA has a private Facebook forum, providing a safe place for eating disorder carers and family members to share experiences, seek advice and assistance, and find hope.