Attitudes of children and parents to social media age restrictions ahead of implementation

This summary report highlights the key findings of qualitative research that was completed in the month before the Social Media Minimum Age law came into effect in December 2025.

This research was undertaken to identify the attitudes and perceptions of children and parents and give a voice to those affected by the new law. It was also intended to deepen understanding of the range of anticipated impacts of the law ahead of its implementation.

The research found that:

• Children and parents held mixed views on the age restrictions, shaped by their personal relationships with social media, perceived risks, beliefs about who is responsible for online safety, and how effective they thought the restrictions would be.
• Most children and parents broadly supported the intention of the age restrictions but were unsure how restrictions would be applied or enforced, and many expected workarounds.
• Children reported mixed emotions, with many believing social media’s benefits often outweighed its risks.
• Expected impacts included changes to social connectedness, some mental health benefits, and new wellbeing challenges from losing social media access.