A leading child and adolescent psychiatrist in Australia has backed the landmark under-16 social media ban, arguing that the move could safeguard developing minds from the risks posed by early and unsupervised online exposure.

The comments come as the nation rolls out the world’s first law prohibiting minors under sixteen from holding accounts on major social platforms.

According to the psychiatrist, the teenage brain — still maturing into the mid-20s — is particularly vulnerable to the “reward-driven” mechanisms used by social media apps, such as likes, comments, and continuous streams of content.

These features, she argues, can overstimulate the brain’s emotional and impulsive centres, undermining the development of higher-order cognitive functions such as self-control, attention and real-world social skills.

Supporters of the law point to rising rates of anxiety, depression and cyberbullying among young people, contending that delaying access to social media until mid-adolescence could reduce these harms.

Government messaging also encourages minors to use their freed screen time for activities like reading, music, sports or face-to-face socialising.

Nevertheless, some youth-rights advocates and parts of the mental-health community warn that a blanket ban may drive children toward unregulated online spaces, or prompt them to use parents’ credentials — exposing them to even less oversight.

Others question whether removing access is enough, arguing that balanced digital-literacy education and platform reforms remain necessary.

As Australia embarks on this regulatory experiment, experts, parents and international observers alike will watch closely — the outcomes may offer insights into how social media law, child psychology and public policy can intersect to shape healthier digital childhoods.