Social Media Is Injurious for Underage Students | Australia restricted social media under 16

Social Media Is Injurious for Underage Students

1: Introduction

In the digital age, social media has become an inseparable part of daily life. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and X (Twitter) attract millions of users worldwide, including school-going children. However, increasing screen time and excessive time spent on social media are raising serious concerns. For underage students, social media is no longer just entertainment; it is becoming a silent threat to their mental health, education, and overall development.

2: Impact of Screen Time on Students

One of the biggest problems is uncontrolled screen time. Many students spend several hours daily scrolling through reels, shorts, and posts. This long time spent on social media reduces study time, disturbs sleep patterns, and causes eye strain and headaches. Research shows that excessive screen exposure affects concentration, memory, and academic performance, especially in students under the age of sixteen.

3: Mental and Emotional Effects

Different kinds of social media platforms affect young minds differently. Instagram and TikTok promote comparison through likes, followers, and filtered images, leading to anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. Snapchat encourages constant online presence, while YouTube shorts and gaming communities can cause addiction. Underage students are emotionally immature and cannot easily handle cyberbullying, online pressure, or harmful content.

4: Social and Behavioral Problems

Excessive time spent on social media also weakens real-life social skills. Students prefer virtual interactions over family conversations, outdoor games, and healthy friendships. This results in isolation, aggressive behavior, and lack of discipline. Instead of learning values and ethics, underage users may be exposed to violence, inappropriate language, and risky trends across different kinds of social media.

5: Australia’s Step to Protect Children

Recognizing these dangers, Australia has taken a bold step by restricting social media use for children under sixteen. This decision aims to protect students from harmful content, reduce screen time, and promote healthy mental growth. Australia’s move has sparked a global debate and is being seen as a model for other countries to control underage access to social media platforms.

6: Need for Parental and Educational Control

While government policies are important, parents and schools also play a crucial role. Monitoring screen time, setting limits on time spent on social media, and guiding students toward educational use of technology are essential. Schools should raise awareness about the harmful effects of social media and encourage reading, sports, and creative activities.

7: Conclusion

In conclusion, social media is clearly injurious for students under age if used without control. Australia’s restriction under sixteen is a timely and necessary step to safeguard future generations. Balanced use of technology, reduced screen time, and responsible supervision can help students grow into healthy, confident, and productive individuals.

1️⃣ Depression and Anxiety in Teenagers (Real Medical Evidence)

What happened: Doctors and psychologists have reported a sharp rise in depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and mood disorders among children who spend long hours on social media.
Evidence:
The American Academy of Pediatrics and WHO reported that excessive screen time and social media addiction are linked with:
sadness
loneliness
anxiety
suicidal thoughts

Example: A 14-year-old girl in the UK was hospitalized for severe depression after spending 8–10 hours daily on Instagram and TikTok, constantly comparing herself to influencers. Doctors confirmed social media pressure as a major cause.

2️⃣ TikTok-Related Tics and Neurological Symptoms (Germany, UK, USA)

What happened: Doctors observed teenage girls developing sudden involuntary movements and vocal tics after watching TikTok videos of influencers pretending to have Tourette syndrome.
Evidence:
Neurologists in Germany and the UK published reports calling it “TikTok-induced functional tic-like disorder.”

📌 Symptoms observed:
sudden jerking movements
shouting words
inability to control muscles
anxiety and stress
Doctors confirmed that constant exposure to social media videos triggered the illness.

3️⃣ Sleep Disorders and Eye Problems in Children

What happened: Children using YouTube, WhatsApp, and gaming apps late at night developed sleep disorders.
Medical findings:
Blue light affects melatonin hormone
Leads to:
insomnia
headaches
weak eyesight
chronic fatigue

📌 Example: School doctors in Australia reported children aged 10–15 suffering from:
eye strain
blurred vision
lack of focus in class
Doctors linked this directly to late-night mobile phone and YouTube use.
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4️⃣ Social Media Addiction → Eating Disorders

What happened: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok promote unrealistic body standards.
Evidence:
Psychologists found increased cases of:
anorexia
bulimia
body dysmorphic disorder

📌 Real case: A 13-year-old boy developed eating anxiety after following fitness influencers. He refused food, believing he was “overweight.” Doctors confirmed social media influence as the trigger.

5️⃣ Cyberbullying Leading to Self-Harm

What happened: Children bullied on WhatsApp groups, Instagram comments, or Snapchat stories developed:
fear
isolation
self-harm behavior
Evidence:
UNICEF reports that 1 in 3 children worldwide experience cyberbullying.
Many cases ended in hospitalization for mental trauma.
📌 Example: Several cases in the US, UK, and Australia involved teenagers attempting self-harm after online harassment. Courts and schools officially recognized social media as the cause.

6️⃣ Why Australia Restricted Social Media Under 16

Australia did not act without evidence.
Their decision was based on:
rising mental illness in children
hospital admissions due to anxiety & self-harm
screen addiction affecting learning
Australian health authorities stated that social media is unsafe for developing brains under 16.
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🔑 Strong Conclusion

“Medical evidence clearly shows that excessive use of social media has made many children mentally and physically sick. Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, neurological problems, and social isolation are no longer rare cases. Australia’s decision to restrict social media for children under sixteen is based on scientific research and real-life suffering of young users.”

The opinions and comments of friends will be respected.

Written by: Afzal Shakeel Sandhu