From December 10, social media platforms will be required to prevent children under 16 from accessing their services for the first time – a shift EDFA says is urgently needed to curb escalating online harms, including body image distress and eating disorder risk. 

EDFA Executive Director Jane Rowan said the reform marks a historic turning point.  

“Tomorrow, things change,” Ms Rowan said. “Children have been navigating digital spaces that were never designed for them. This reform won’t fix everything overnight, but it will make the online world safer, and that matters for every family.”  

Ms Rowan said families consistently report that social media intensifies eating-disorder symptoms, derails recovery, and exposes young people to harmful content promoted by algorithms. 

“Parents cannot compete with billion-dollar systems engineered to exploit vulnerability. Systemic reform is essential, and this is an important first step,” she said. 

EDFA acknowledged the bipartisan leadership behind the reform and endorsed the broader digital safety agenda, including the proposed Digital Duty of Care. The organisation also urged strong safeguards around AI companions and AI-generated content, which is increasingly shaping what children see online.  

“What matters now is sustained political will,” Ms Rowan said. “Tomorrow won’t make the internet perfect. But it will make it safer and that gives families hope.”  

EDFA is the only national organisation providing support, education, advocacy and counselling services solely to carers and families of those living with an eating disorder. Established in 2016, EDFA now supports more than 3,000 members and has helped hundreds of carers and families over the years.  

Ms Rowan, who is both a lived experience eating disorder carer and a leading advocate for this reform, is available for interview this week.  

Ms Rowan will also be present at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s event at Kirribilli House on December 10 to mark the introduction of the reforms.  

EDFA also has eating disorder carers available for interview. 

EDFA Media Liaison Tracey Adamson is available on tracey.adamson@edfa.org.au or 0475 612 314.