Some parents have already banned their kids from social media but experts warn it may have adverse effects
In short:
A mother of two has decided to shut down her kids' social media accounts before the ban comes into effect from the end of next year.
Like many parents, Ms Dutton felt pressure to allow her 12- and 13-year-old children to be on social media, but says the transition for her family has been overwhelmingly positive.
What's next?
Experts warn that the bans could isolate some children, and parents will need to be digitally literate and vigilant in order to help enforce the ban.
As mum of two, Jane Dutton, watched the federal debate unfold over an under-16s social media ban, then she made the call to jump the gun.
Instead of waiting for the ban to kick in in a years' time, she shut down her kids' social media accounts straight away.
Her first thought: "I shouldn't have done it [allowed social media] in the first place."
Like many parents, she felt pressure to allow her 12- and 13-year-old children to be on social media.
"I wanted to feel that they belonged, and they were fitting in," Ms Dutton said.
But even with password access to their accounts and parental controls in place she quickly felt like she'd lost control.
Some parents have already implemented social media restrictions for their children, ahead of the national ban next year. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
"I was giving them this tool that was so wide and broad and powerful which I said I would monitor really tightly, and then in reality, work and other things were going on," she said.
"I was suddenly like, 'Well, I have dropped the ball big time.'"
She said while there had never been "any major disaster", she had growing concerns about her kids not really knowing the people they were friends with on social media and she was worried about inappropriate content on TikTok.
No more 'constant sound of the buzzing in our house'
Jane Dutton is a parent of teenagers and has already implemented restrictions around social media. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
Debate in federal parliament on social media bans for under 16-year-olds was the trigger Ms Dutton needed to "rip the band-aid off".
She and her husband had a conversation with their kids about shutting down their social media apps immediately.
"I said, 'Let's see how it goes, day one will be the worst and a week down it'll be easier,'" she said.
Ms Dutton said her kids took it "pretty well" and she let all their friends know that they were still contactable on text message.
"Neither copped much flak for it and I thought they would," she said.
In fact, the transition for the family has been overwhelmingly positive.
"We've really focused on this idea that it could be more relaxed for them," Ms Dutton said.
"Also, those true friendships that they've done work on that are physical, real, face-to-face, we now get the opportunity to focus on that … rather than the 800 that you sort of know, or a friend of a friend."
She has also encouraged her kids to go "old school" and set up text message group chats.
Ms Dutton shared her decision on her own social media account and said the response was overwhelmingly positive.
"I felt I'd gone from feeling really negatively about myself as a parent — that I was having no control over this," she said.
"And then [sharing the decision] felt like a really decisive, strong step that we'd made just as a family.
"The response and the comments were really positive — everyone was saying that they either wanted to do the same or that they already made that move."
Ms Dutton said she understands that her family's decision is not for everyone, and she recognises there are positives that come with social media.
But for now, she's enjoying the break.
"There's just not that constant sound of the buzzing in our house from four phones, constant notifications — and there are hundreds of them."
Doubts around ban's effectiveness
Louis Rheinberger, 15, says he's unsure a social media ban will be effective. (ABC News: Owain Stia-James )
Louis Rheinberger, 15, will escape the social media ban when they come into force in a year but thinks they are a good idea for younger people.
"I know people have had it since grade 3 and I feel like people have it so early and they are so used to it and by the time they are this age they are so enticed with it," he said.
But he's unsure if the bans will work.
"It is a big step and I think that it is necessary but so many people that I personally know will just try and find a way around it," he said.
'Take the time to get this right'
Yasmin London, director of online safety company Qoria. (Supplied)
Yasmine London, director of online safety company Qoria, said more time was needed to ensure the ban actually worked.
"I think nobody disputes that social media needs to improve, that we need to really focus on safeguarding our kids from the negative impacts that social media can have," Ms London said.
"But it's really important we take the time to get this right."
She said overseas trials had shown young people could bypass age assurance technologies.
"What we'll see is young people going into much darker and more dangerous places on the internet than they are today," she said.
"It will actually drive help-seeking underground."
Ms London is also worried that the ban will mean some kids are further isolated.
"We have young LGBTIQ kids that rely on this for their sense of community, we have neurodiverse young people who connect with communities through social media," she said.
Predictions ban will be 'significant challenge'
Australian Psychological Society president Dr Sara Quinn. (Supplied)
Australian Psychological Society president Dr Sara Quinn said social media was a large part of most teenagers' lives, especially after the pandemic.
"We were encouraging our youth and our adults to be online to connect online and now with the pending removal of that benefit for those under 16, it's going to be a significant challenge," Dr Quinn said.
"My advice to young people … in managing the transition into that social media ban is to connect with those people that you are currently connecting with online, that you know quite well, that you can actually engage with face-to-face where possible. "
She said parents may feel a mixture of relief and concern about the impact of the ban on their children.
"We need to understand what needs are being met by their social media use, whether it's relationship needs, mental health needs, information gathering needs," she said.
"Working with your teenager is the best way to find that out through honest and open communication."
She has called on the federal government to fund more rebated mental health support for young people.