For the first time in years, Amy feels free. One month since Australia's teen social media ban kicked in, she says she is 'disconnected from my phone' and her daily routine has changed. The 14-year-old first felt the pangs of online addiction in the days after the ban started. 'I knew that I was still unable to access Snapchat - however, from instinct, I still reached to open the app in the morning,' she wrote on day two of the ban in a diary she kept for the first week afterwards.
By day four of the ban – when ten platforms including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok went dark for thousands of Australian children aged 16 and under – she had started to question the magnetic pull of Snapchat. 'While it's sad that I can't snap my friends, I can still text them on other platforms and I honestly feel kind of free knowing that I don't have to worry about doing my streaks anymore,' Amy wrote.
Streaks - a Snapchat feature considered by some as highly addictive – require two people to send a 'snap' – a photo or video – to each other every day in order to maintain their 'streak.' Fast forward a month, and her habits are markedly different. 'Previously, it was part of my routine to open Snapchat,' Amy tells the BBC. 'I now reach for my phone less and mainly use it when I genuinely need to do something.'
On the other hand, Aahil, 13, hasn’t read more books or engaged in more sports since the ban began. He spends about two and a half hours on various social media platforms every day – much the same as before the ban started. 'It hasn't really changed anything,' Aahil says, noting that despite the ban, he still uses YouTube and Discord, which are not restricted.
Consumer psychologist Christina Anthony explained that the ban may disrupt a familiar coping mechanism for many teenagers, leading to irritability or restlessness. Meanwhile, the ban has prompted some teens to search for similar substitute platforms, evidenced by a spike in downloads of alternative apps like Lemon8, Yope, and Coverstar.
Ultimately, while some children report improved emotional wellbeing and engage in more offline activities, others like Aahil point to a lack of significant behavioral changes, highlighting the complexity of social media's role in youth culture today. Officials will further analyze the impact of the ban and its alignment with the intended goals of reducing online harm for young Australians.
By day four of the ban – when ten platforms including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok went dark for thousands of Australian children aged 16 and under – she had started to question the magnetic pull of Snapchat. 'While it's sad that I can't snap my friends, I can still text them on other platforms and I honestly feel kind of free knowing that I don't have to worry about doing my streaks anymore,' Amy wrote.
Streaks - a Snapchat feature considered by some as highly addictive – require two people to send a 'snap' – a photo or video – to each other every day in order to maintain their 'streak.' Fast forward a month, and her habits are markedly different. 'Previously, it was part of my routine to open Snapchat,' Amy tells the BBC. 'I now reach for my phone less and mainly use it when I genuinely need to do something.'
On the other hand, Aahil, 13, hasn’t read more books or engaged in more sports since the ban began. He spends about two and a half hours on various social media platforms every day – much the same as before the ban started. 'It hasn't really changed anything,' Aahil says, noting that despite the ban, he still uses YouTube and Discord, which are not restricted.
Consumer psychologist Christina Anthony explained that the ban may disrupt a familiar coping mechanism for many teenagers, leading to irritability or restlessness. Meanwhile, the ban has prompted some teens to search for similar substitute platforms, evidenced by a spike in downloads of alternative apps like Lemon8, Yope, and Coverstar.
Ultimately, while some children report improved emotional wellbeing and engage in more offline activities, others like Aahil point to a lack of significant behavioral changes, highlighting the complexity of social media's role in youth culture today. Officials will further analyze the impact of the ban and its alignment with the intended goals of reducing online harm for young Australians.
