Mia Bannister, an Australian mother whose 14-year-old son Ollie tragically took his own life last year after enduring severe online bullying, has expressed bittersweet emotions as the country introduces a landmark social media ban for children under 16. While proud of the groundbreaking legislation, Bannister cannot help but wish her son were still here to see it.
Ollie’s struggles with cyberbullying and an overwhelming flood of harmful content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube — much of it exacerbating his eating disorder — led to his tragic death. Bannister, alongside other grieving parents who have lost children to online harm, campaigned for this law, hoping it would spare other families the heartbreak they have endured.
With Australia becoming the first country to introduce such a ban, the law now mandates that tech companies remove under-16s from their platforms, or face fines of up to US$33 million. For Bannister, the law represents both a victory and a painful reminder of her loss.
“It’s very bittersweet. I would give anything — and I mean anything — to have Ollie here with me today,” she told AFP. “I am proud we are leading the way and I hope the rest of the world will follow and save future generations from online harm.” Bannister, who runs a charity dedicated to supporting young men struggling with eating disorders, added that although she felt exhausted after months of campaigning, she knew there was still much work to be done.
Wayne Holdsworth, another father who lost his 17-year-old son, Mac, to a sextortion scam on social media, echoed similar sentiments. Holdsworth’s son died two years ago, and he too had campaigned for stricter regulations on social media. He praised the new law as an important first step but called for further education to raise awareness of online dangers, particularly for young people once they turn 16.
“We’ve lost our kids, but their deaths haven’t been in vain. Today, they’re looking down very proud of the work that we’ve all done,” he said during a Sydney event marking the new regulations.
While the law has successfully logged out hundreds of thousands of under-16s from platforms, it has also encountered some resistance. Teen influencers, like Zoey, a popular TikTok content creator with over 58,000 followers, have vowed to find ways around the ban. In a video shared before the new rules took effect, Zoey defiantly stated, “You can still find me on other platforms. I will find a way to keep posting and making content. Don’t let the stupid government bring you down.”
Although authorities have acknowledged that the law may not be perfect, they view it as an essential step in addressing the growing crisis of online harm faced by young people. As the global conversation around the dangers of social media continues to grow, Australia’s new law is setting a precedent that other nations may soon follow, as they grapple with how to protect the younger generation from digital exploitation and mental health crises.
The law, which aims to reduce online harm, marks a new chapter in global efforts to safeguard the well-being of young people in an increasingly digital world. However, as parents like Bannister and Holdsworth continue to advocate for further action, the fight for a safer online environment remains far from over.
