Digital Child

🔗 Learn more about the research project here:
digitalchild.org.au/research/res...

A huge thank you to our partners at Children’s Health Queensland, to Queensland Children’s Hospital and to all the families who took part.

And special thanks to our ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child members for making these sessions possible.

These playful activities offered creative distraction and mindful digital engagement while waiting for appointments.
This collaboration is part of our ongoing work in digital health literacy, helping children, young people and families navigate health information in meaningful ways.

This engagement focused on community connection and giving back, creating moments of joy, curiosity and calm during what can be stressful hospital experiences.

Children explored AR jungles, coded mini robots to dance, played gesture-based games, and created sounds, patterns — even digital pizzas!

✨ Digital Play at Queensland Children’s Hospital ✨

Over 25–26 November, the Digital Child team partnered with Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service to bring hands-on Digital Play experiences to families.

Australia’s social media ban won’t stop cyberbullying A technical fix can’t solve a social problem.

There’s no magic button, but continued dialogue, guidance and understanding make a real difference.

Read Professor Tama Leaver’s full article on The Conversation Australia + NZ
theconversation.com/australias-s...

So what actually helps?
🟣 Open conversations between young people and trusted adults
🟣 Practical steps like blocking, reporting and keeping evidence
🟣 Support from services like ReachOut, Headspace and Kids Helpline
🟣 Recognising that no law or platform feature can “switch off” bullying

While the ban stops under-16s from creating accounts on major social platforms, it doesn’t prevent bullying — because bullying is a social issue, not a technology one.

Australia’s new social media Minimum Age law is now in effect — but will it stop cyberbullying?

According to our Chief Investigator Professor Tama Leaver er, the answer is no.

Prof. Michael Dezuanni, is part of today’s ABC News expert panel discussing the new social media restrictions coming into effect for under-16s.

Michael is answering community questions about what this change means for young people, parents and educators.

🔗 www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...

Also a throwback to our earlier interview with @tamaleaver.bsky.social of the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child (@digitalchildau.bsky.social) on the recent ban on social media for children under 16 in #Australia: open.spotify.com/episode/5zCX...

Together, these resources help make the transition smoother, clearer and more informed for everyone involved — especially the young people at the centre of this change. 💛

These resources offer practical guidance and bring forward young people’s perspectives to ensure this transition is understood, supported and handled with care.

3️⃣ Preparing for the Social Media Ban

Guidance for teenagers, families and schools on communication, digital memories and wellbeing.
👉 digitalchild.org.au/preparing-fo...

2️⃣ What Young People Really Think

Their voices, concerns and ideas for safer, more supportive digital spaces.
👉 digitalchild.org.au/make-the-pla...

1️⃣ Lesson Plan for Educators

A classroom tool to guide conversations and empower students.
👉 digitalchild.org.au/educators/le...

This is the some of the work from our members and researchers who have been exploring this important matter in depth. As the social media delay comes into effect tomorrow (Dec 10th, 2025), these three key resources can be used by teenagers, educators and parents to help manage the change. 💬✨

Young Australians’ perspectives on the social media minimum age legislation - Digital Child This report captures a moment in time, just before legislation preventing under-16s from holding accounts on social media platforms is implemented

Our new report, Young Australians’ Perspectives on the Social Media Minimum Age Legislation, published in collaboration with the QUT Digital Media Research Centre, shares what young people really think as the country prepares for this change.

Full Report: digitalchild.org.au/research/pub...

📣 Teachers, we’ve prepared something for you!

From December 10, the Australian Government’s Social Media Delay comes into effect. We’ve developed a set of practical teaching and learning materials you can use right away.

Access the lesson plan here: digitalchild.org.au/educators/le...

🎉 Huge Congratulations to Tama Leaver! 🎉

A well-deserved recognition as Most Prolific Media Commentator for the Faculty of Humanities at the 2025 Curtin University Research Excellence and Impact Awards.

🔗 Read the full announcement from Curtin University here: www.curtin.edu.au/news/media-r...

Think “screen time” is easy to measure? 🤔📱

Children use technology in different ways, across different contexts—and no single method can capture the full picture.

Our new blog breaks down why measuring children’s screen use is so challenging.

digitalchild.org.au/ways-to-meas...

🎉 Congratulations to our Digital Child members from the University of Wollongong, Dr Zhiguang Zhang and Dr Tiffani Apps, on receiving Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) grants!

We’re proud to celebrate their important research and this outstanding achievement.

🧑‍🧒‍🧒Guide for parents and carers: www.oaic.gov.au/__data/asset...

Find more guidance at eSafety.gov.au and oaic.gov.au

👥Guide for children: www.oaic.gov.au/__data/asset...

📘 Information for Children and Parents
The OAIC has easy-to-read guides that explain what these changes mean:

Some platforms may also use extra steps like selfies or age checks — but they cannot make government-issued ID the only option.

🔐 Your Privacy Is Protected
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) is here to protect the privacy of all Australians.

📢 New Social Media Age Rules: What You Need to Know
From 10 December 2025, social media companies must ensure all users in Australia are 16+. To do this, they may check details like your location, mobile number, account settings, or online activity.

Stay Tuned!

5️⃣ Deakin education expert helps assess Australia’s teen social media crackdown
👥 Featuring Professor Julian Sefton-Green
➡️Covers the world-first under-16 social media ban and its impacts on young people and families.
👉🏽Read here: lnkd.in/g-wYdZJq