Introduction
The past three years have seen an unprecedented shift in how Australian children spend their after‑school hours. A research project led by the University of South Australia (UniSA) tracked more than 14,000 students aged 11 to 14 from 2019 to 2022, revealing that daily social media usage surged from 26 % to 85 %, while participation in activities such as sport, reading, music and the arts collapsed dramatically. These changes have not returned to pre‑COVID levels, indicating a lasting transformation in youth engagement.
For parents, educators and policymakers who are concerned about the long‑term effects on child development, the findings provide a clear and urgent picture: digital platforms, especially social media, are replacing the enriching experiences that traditionally supported healthy growth. Schedule a free consultation to explore how your community can respond.
Key Findings: Numbers That Matter
UniSA’s study offers four core metrics that illustrate the scale of the shift:
- Daily social media use rose from 26 % to 85 % between 2019 and 2022.
- Only 3 % of students remained non‑users.
- Reading for fun fell from 11 % to 53 % who never read for pleasure.
- Arts participation increased in the “never” category from 26 % to 70 %.
- Music clubs saw a jump in non‑participants from 70 % to 85 %.
The study also noted gender‑specific patterns: boys experienced a steeper drop in reading, while girls consistently used social media more often. TV watching and video game play spiked during lockdown but largely normalized by 2022, unlike the persistent rise in social media activity.
Implications for Youth Well‑Being
Experts warn that the domination of social media at a critical developmental stage can have both immediate and lasting effects on mental health, academic performance, and social skills. In the UniSA analysis, participation in complex, skill‑building activities—sport, music, arts, and literature—correlates strongly with:
- Improved academic outcomes
- Enhanced self‑identity and confidence
- Strong social networks and peer relationships
- Resilience against mental health challenges
When these pastimes are supplanted by passive scrolling, children lose out on the practice of goal‑setting, teamwork, creative expression, and the real‑world feedback loops that foster psychological robustness.
Policy Response: Society‑Wide Digital Regulation
Australia’s forthcoming age‑restriction on social media access for users under 16 reflects a growing recognition that technological tools can influence behaviour patterns. This legislative measure intends to protect children from some of the inherent risks of unmoderated social media.
However, it also raises the question: when young users are blocked, where do they redirect their leisure time? Likely destinations include gaming, messaging apps, or television—all of which need monitoring for their own behavioural impacts.
Tracking Post‑Restriction Behaviour
Healthcare professionals, educators, and social workers can collaborate with partners such as the Australian e‑Safety Agency and UniSA’s research team to validate whether the restriction achieves its intended goal or merely transmutes frustration into alternate digital arenas. Early indicators suggest the policy will also rank social media as the most dominant after‑school activity post‑COVID, underscoring the need for effective implementation and community support.
Re‑Engaging Youth in Enriching Activities
Researchers recommend three pillars of intervention:
- Community‑Based Programming – Local councils and schools should fund after‑school clubs that offer free or low‑cost access to sports teams, drama groups, and music ensembles.
- Integrated Digital Literacy Curriculum – Teach mindful media consumption habits, privacy management, and the value of offline play.
- Parental and Caregiver Involvement – Create forums where adults discuss digital expectations, and provide resources for setting screen‑time limits without stifling creativity.
In practice, a school that partnered with the University of Brighton to offer free weekly coding workshops saw a 12 % increase in student enrollment, while nearby clubs reported higher retention when they paired social media promotion with community events.
Future Research Directions
UniSA’s publication is only the beginning. Future work should explore:
- Longitudinal outcomes of social media‑heavy lifestyles on educational attainment and career paths.
- Cross‑cultural comparisons within Australian states to assess regional disparities.
- Effectiveness of hybrid models—combining digital platforms with physical socialization—to keep children engaged online while preserving real‑world interaction.
These insights will be critical for fine‑tuning policy measures and designing programmes that balance connectivity with balanced development.
Conclusion
The UniSA study illustrates a clear, data‑driven story: social media use among Australian youth has surged, while sport, reading, music, and arts participation have sharply declined. The continuing trend beyond the pandemic signals an urgent need for targeted interventions that support healthy after‑school engagement.
Stakeholders—schools, parents, community organisations, and policymakers—must act now to reaffirm the value of enriching activities and ensure that digital life complements rather than competes with real‑world growth.
Ready to support your child or community in rebalancing after‑school time? Explore UniSA’s enrichment programs and learn how to reconnect youth with sport, reading and the arts.
If you have questions or would like to discuss policy initiatives, write to us.
