The Parent Pulse: Social Media & Our Children Survey

From 10 December 2025, age-restricted social media platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from creating or keeping an account.

Your voice matters. By completing this survey, you are helping Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) understand the real experiences, challenges, and hopes of families in our Catholic school communities. The insights gathered will directly shape our advocacy with Catholic Education authorities and Government, ensuring that the needs and perspectives of parents and carers are heard at the highest levels.

Your input will guide us in championing initiatives that strengthen learning, wellbeing, and partnership between home and school.

2.Please select your child’s/children’s school level(Required.)

Primary

Secondary

Both

Section 1 – Awareness & Attitudes

3.Overall, do you support delaying children’s access to social media until they are 16?(Required.)

4.Do you support schools placing limits on student access to mobile phones during school hours bearing in mind that this would be the case until students finish school and not just until they are 16.(Required.)

Section 2 – Concerns & Challenges

5.What are your main concerns about children’s use of social media? (Select up to three)

Exposure to inappropriate content

Cyberbullying/harassment

Mental health and wellbeing impacts

Privacy and data security

Distraction from schoolwork and learning

Pressure to fit in/social comparisons

Other (please specify)

6.What challenges do you think families may face managing their children’s social media access and usage once restrictions are in place? (Select all that apply)(Required.)

Difficulty monitoring/enforcing at home

Increased behavioural challenges

Peer and friendship pressures

Lack of guidance from schools or government

Children accessing platforms secretly

Technology skills gap for parents

Other (please specify)

Section 3 – Support Needs

7.What kind of support would help you as a parent/carer in managing your child’s online engagement? (Select all that apply)(Required.)

Clear national guidelines on age and access – enforced by tech companies

Information regarding the legal implications/consequences for both young people and their parents/carers

School-based digital literacy programs for students

Parent workshops/webinars on online safety

Practical resources for home (e.g., how-to guides, parental controls)

Regular resources about risks and strategies

Access to helplines or advisory services

Other (please specify)

8.How confident do you currently feel in supporting your child to navigate online and social media safely?(Required.)

Very confident

Confident

Somewhat confident

Not confident

Very confident

Confident

Somewhat confident

Not confident

9.Where have you received information about the proposed changes? (Select all that apply)(Required.)

Other (please specify)

10.Are you aware if your child/teen has been provided with any information about the proposed changes?(Required.)

Yes – they have received clear information

I believe they have received some information, but I’m unsure of the details

No – they have not received any information

I don’t know

The Parent Pulse: Social Media & Our Children

The Australian Government is delivering policies to delay children’s access to social media.