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Outback teen loses key connection as Australia enforces social media ban
Breanna Easton, 15, spends her summers mustering cattle on her family's remote Queensland station, 1,600 km northeast of Brisbane. Social media once bridged the gap between her and friends scattered across the outback-until Australia's new law barred under-16s from platforms like Snapchat and TikTok.
Life on the land: Work, isolation, and digital lifelines
Breanna's days blend ranch work with digital snippets-messaging friends via Snapchat from her all-terrain buggy or filming TikTok clips with her siblings. With peers living over 100 km away, social media was her primary link to their lives.
"Taking away our socials is just taking away how we talk to each other," she says. While texting remains an option, she misses the immediacy of a "snap" or a "like" that kept her connected despite the distance.
A year in the making: Debate over child safety vs. digital rights
Supporters of the ban argue it shields children from online bullying, predators, and excessive screen time. Critics counter that it may push teens toward unregulated corners of the internet and question the reliability of age-verification technology.
The law, passed in late November 2024, followed the release of The Anxious Generation by psychologist Jonathan Haidt, which links smartphones to rising youth anxiety. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, inspired by his wife's reading of the book, championed the legislation.
"When you are talking about protecting young people, all other considerations become secondary."
Peter Malinauskas, South Australian Premier
Parents split: Protection or overreach?
Breanna's mother, Megan Easton, calls the ban a "mixed blessing." While she acknowledges the need to protect children, she recalls her own isolated childhood on a cattle station and fears the law strips parents of their role in guiding digital use.
"Usually around 12 is when they start looking for their peers to be more influential than their parents," she says. "We've staged their experiences with social media-it's a chance to let them make mistakes and learn from them."
Urban teens echo frustrations
In Sydney, 14-year-old Jacinta Hickey bristles at the implication that teens can't navigate social media responsibly. "It's a bit insulting that they think we can't handle it," she says. Her school principal, Iris Nastasi, disagrees, citing late-night incidents that spill into school life and damage relationships.
Twelve-year-old Lola Farrugia, content with her flip phone, offers a different perspective: "My mom explained social media is junk food for the brain."
Minority groups warn of unintended consequences
The ban's broad stroke has drawn criticism from LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent communities. A survey by Minus18 found 96% of LGBTQ+ youth rely on social media for support, while 82% fear disconnection under the ban.
Sadie Angus, a 13-year-old Brisbane student, used Instagram as an anonymous safe space to discuss her identity. "I can admit more things on there than I can in real life," she says. Her mother, Kath, worries the ban cuts off access to queer role models.
Sharon Fraser, CEO of Reframing Autism, highlights how online spaces benefit autistic youth. "We communicate and socialise differently," she says. "There are ways to connect online that aren't accessible in real life."
A grieving mother's crusade
Emma Mason's 15-year-old daughter, Tilly, died by suicide nearly four years ago after years of online bullying. A fake image of Tilly circulated on social media, pushing her to a breaking point. "She was subject to something she had no control over," Emma recalls.
Now an advocate for the ban, Emma stands with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, calling social media "agents of harm that are unregulated." Yet she concedes the law may not help teens already exposed to its risks.
"It's a government's job to protect the vulnerable. Those 13 and below won't grow up in a world where it's acceptable to say whatever you want, however you want."
Emma Mason, campaigner
Legal battles and global scrutiny
The law faces a High Court challenge from two teens, potential clashes with tech firms, and criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over its impact on American companies. Despite the backlash, Malinauskas remains steadfast: "Of course you think through repercussions, but protecting young people comes first."
