A UNSW Sydney study suggests that the age children first use social media impacts their mental health, with earlier exposure linked to increased anxiety and depression symptoms. The findings raise questions about policies targeting social media use among young people.
Researchers at UNSW Sydney say the age children first use social media may matter more for mental health than simply whether they have an account, adding to evidence that early exposure is linked with more anxiety and depression symptoms. In a survey of 365 Australian adolescents aged 10 to 15 and one parent from each household, those who started using social media younger reported worse mental health outcomes, according to findings published in JAMA Network Open.
The study was carried out in the six weeks before Australia’s social media ban took effect in December 2025. The researchers found that 70% of participants had used social media, about half already had an account, and the average age of first use was 11. Susanne Schweizer, the study’s chief investigator, said the result suggested that delaying first exposure could be more important than focusing only on account access. Lead author Anna Bilston said policymakers may need to think beyond simple restrictions if they want to protect young people’s mental health.
The same research also found that only a quarter of the 10-to-15-year-olds planned to stop using social media after the ban. Just over a third said they would keep using it without an account, while a similar share said they expected to work around the limits. Schweizer said that did not necessarily mean the policy had failed, arguing that attitudes can shift before behaviour does and that the ban may already be prompting conversations about online risk among parents, teachers and teenagers. The researchers plan to follow the group over the next 12 months.
A separate UNSW companion study looked at how older teenagers and young adults felt after online and in-person interactions. It found that face-to-face contact generally left participants feeling more positive and included, though socially sensitive young people appeared to benefit more from online exchanges in the short term. UNSW said the broader project is designed to track children and adolescents over time and build a clearer picture of how early experiences, including digital ones, shape later mental health. Other recent research has also linked heavier social media use with poorer well-being and more internalising symptoms in adolescence, reinforcing the view that both timing and intensity of use may matter.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
