Australia’s social media ban: A turning point for communications

Helena Cataldo - January 2026

There are moments in public life that make us pause, not out of nostalgia, but because the path ahead has shifted. Australia’s decision to restrict social media for under-16s is one of those moments. For many, it may feel like a change where conversations happen. For leaders in government, communicators, and the communities they serve, it’s a reset, a redefinition of how information travels, how trust is built, and what staying connected means. 

For more than a decade, social platforms have been the scaffolding of public dialogue, powerful yet imperfect. They enabled government messages to reach millions in minutes and communities to mobilise overnight. But they also accelerated misinformation, polarisation and harmful content. 

Now, under the Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) framework, platforms, not parents, must prevent under-16s from holding accounts. This world-first move signals a profound shift: The question is no longer ‘How do we optimise engagement?’ but ‘How do we design connection in a system built on accountability and privacy?’ 

What this means for communications 

This is less about prohibition and more about recalibration. It challenges assumptions: 

  • Reach equals impact. It doesn’t, well, at least not always. 
  • Speed equals effectiveness. Fast isn’t the same as meaningful. 
  • Attention-driven platforms can sustain civic trust. Sometimes, but at a cost. 

What emerging signals could we see? 

  • Deeper, slower engagement – Organisations and communicators may need to invest in long-form, values-led content and moderated forums. 
  • Channel diversification – Time to re-audit your communication mix and consider partnerships and a return to other traditional methods to get the message out.  
  • Trust as the new currency – Governance, content standards, and clarity of purpose will matter most. 

Other realities: strengthen two-way dialogue, anticipate encrypted ‘dark social’ spaces, and co-design with communities most affected, especially rural, remote and culturally diverse groups. 

The youth challenge 

Under-16s will migrate to private channels. The pivot? Partner-driven outreach via schools, youth workers, and local leaders. 

Over-16s remain online, but organic reach shrinks. The answer? The quality premium – high-value, precisely targeted content. 

What organisations should do now 

  • Rebuild your channel mix with purpose. 
  • Centre accessibility and inclusion. 
  • Equip teams for narrative-driven, insight-led communication. 
  • Strengthen crisis readiness for misinformation in encrypted spaces. 
  • Create spaces for dialogue—not just delivery. 

How Parbery can help 

At Parbery, we see renewed purpose, not lost channels. We help organisations: 

  • Audit and redesign channel strategies. 
  • Embed accessibility and cultural safety. 
  • Build capability for relationship-driven communication. 
  • Develop crisis-ready frameworks for a fragmented media landscape. 

This isn’t a crisis – it’s an opportunity to make communications safer, more equitable and more human. The SMMA framework doesn’t give all the answers, but it asks better questions: 

  • What if communications strengthened belonging, not competed for attention?  
  • What if trust was earned through accountability, not algorithms? 

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