One Law For All NSW Opposes Social Media Ban
As of December 10 2025, Australia’s world-first “social media minimum age” law will come into force, requiring designated social media platforms to prevent users under 16 from holding accounts. While government officials, the eSafety Commissioner, and a number of public figures say that the ban will “protect young Australians from pressures and risks,” young people actually affected by the ban have serious fears and concerns.
Chief among these is that the ban will cut off LGBTQ+ youth from vital safe spaces and peer support online, especially for those living in regional and/or socially conservative areas. Decision-makers touting the social media ban as a way to protect children entirely neglect the importance of online community for LGBTQ+ youth. OLFA co-founder Raine Osborne said “being queer was hard growing up and I always felt alone. If it weren’t for different online communities I would have had no support system, I would probably be in a much darker place if it wasn't for the love and support of my friends that I had found online.” This is an extremely common experience for LGBTQ+ youth- the internet becoming a sole source of support and community that may be completely inaccessible in the offline world. And this lack of support is a leading factor in the shocking discrepancy in mental wellbeing between young LGBTQ+ people and their peers. A study by the Telethon Kids Institute showed that transgender youth experience depression and anxiety at nearly ten times the rate compared to general Australian youth. 2024 research by the US-based Trevor Project showed that 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the previous year.
Additionally, social media is too often the only available source of information about sexuality and gender for a questioning young person. Especially for those from more conservative upbringings and/or regional and rural communities, these topics might never be discussed in educational or family environments. 63% of LGBTQ+ young people turn to online communities for support with their identity, and 44% turn to influencers or content creators- compared to 26% for parents and just 18% for school staff. This policy will restrict access to these online spaces during the exact period of life where young people are most likely to be questioning their identities, cutting them off from information and support that may not be accessible anywhere else in their life. Meanwhile, the federal government has declined to comment on how it will support queer-safe offline spaces once the ban comes into effect.
One Law For All NSW is a youth-led advocacy organisation that exists to fight for the protection of LGBTQ+ students in NSW. We share the deep real fears and concerns of Australia’s LGBTQ+ youth, 1 in 10 of our nation’s young people, regarding the proposed ban, and call on the government to enact real change to protect young people from danger in the digital world without further marginalising already vulnerable and isolated groups.
A list of support services can be found below.
Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
Lifeline - 13 11 14
Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800
QLife - 1800 184 527
headspace - 1800 650 890
Suicide Callback Service - 1300 659 467
MensLine Australia - 1300 78 99 78
