Exploring Australian intergenerational social media perspectives
Understanding the role of social media in Australian family life and what can support young people and parents to navigate social media policy.
Our Vision
Social media use amongst young people has seen dramatic change in recent years as it continues to embed itself into the everyday lives of young people. With the recent social media ban passing in Australian Parliament, there are still critical gaps in understanding the complex dynamics of social media use within Australian families. In particular, the specific approaches and understandings of social media amongst young people (13-15 years old) and parents remains largely unexamined. How do the attitudes of each cohort differ and align, and what informs these perspectives? What resources and support might be useful for parents and families in navigating existing and future policy surrounding social media and young people?
The social media ban has proved to be divisive, with key stakeholders including industry and technology groups, academics and government arguing different things. The specific perspectives from Australian families – particularly those of young people – and the various psychosocial, cultural and political factors that shape these are often missed in the discussion. It is these experiences that can help gain better insight into the similarities, differences and tensions for those at the heart of the debate.
This project aims to understand how social media is integrated into everyday family life, the drivers of parental concerns surrounding young people’s social media use, identify support needs for diverse families, and explore the impact of restrictive social media policies. The project's findings will inform evidence-based policies and supportive resources for parents and carers.
Our Project Plan
The project, sponsored by Facebook Australia (Meta Platforms Inc), will conduct a scoping study drawing on qualitative research conducted both in Western Sydney as well as across Australia.
The research will involve:
- Twelve interviews with parents and carers of young people aged 13-15 from across Australia. Those participating will be from a range of different backgrounds, including culturally and linguistically diverse, low socio-economic, rural/remote, LGBT+, single parents, and carers such as grandparents. Conducted online, these interviews will explore their perspectives on social media, parenting approaches, concerns, and support needs. A workshop with 10-15 young people aged 13-15 from Western Sydney. The workshop will present preliminary findings from the parent interviews to the young people where they will be given the opportunity to respond and share their own experiences in relation to social media. They will also assess parent support needs and design resources to help parents support their children.
Project History
What Impact will this research have?
This research will help to inform policies, resources, and support for families by understanding the complexities of digital life, and the impacts of social media restrictions.
Outputs
The project will produce a range of outputs, including a public-facing report, a stakeholder webinar, and an infographic or brief report for participants. These will be disseminated through the Young & Resilient Research Centre and Facebook Australia/Meta digital channels.
Collaboration team
Professor Amanda Third
Dr Nukte Ogun
Dr Kim Lam
Dr Michael Everitt Hartup
Funding
The research is made possible by funding from Facebook Australia Pty Ltd (Meta Platforms Inc)
Streams
Activating Places and Platforms
Period
November 2024 – June 2025
Contact: If you would like to get in contact with the project team, please email Dr Nukte Ogun at n.ogun@westernsydney.edu.au.
