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For 15-year-old Wren Alfaro, social media has been a lifeline. Wren is a teenager who has difficulty walking, chronic fatigue, ADHD and autism. For them, finding a community on Instagram has connected them with people with similar interests who understand what it is like to be a teenager with a disability. Wren also enjoys watching fun videos on YouTube and talking to friends on social media. In less than two months, Australia's social media ban for teens under 16 will take effect. The world-first ban will extend to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter/X, and YouTube, amongst other platforms. Come December, Wren is worried they could end up losing contact with friends and online communities due to being banned from social media. "Because I personally have a physical disability, I struggle to get out a lot," they say. "[Social media] helps me engage with my community without having to go out and struggle through painful days." Finding a safe environment Wren's concerns are shared by advocates working in the disability support sector. "Social media allows teenagers with a disability to connect to their friends in an easy and safe environment," CEO of Children and Young People with Disability Australia Skye Kakoschke-Moore says. "A lot of our public spaces aren't built to meet the needs of people with a physical disability," she says. Ignored by the government Wren understands social media can have its drawbacks. "Although there are harmful ways that social media can impact young people, it's been amazing for me," they say. Disability and mental health advocate Emily Unity says that social media and online spaces give teens a voice. "If you remove those lifelines, they are not going to be able to seek help in the way that they most prefer and that is most accessible to them," they said. The federal government's Online Safety Amendment was passed last November with bipartisan support. E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant says the government is not banning the internet and cites the exemption for online gaming platforms and messaging apps. "This is really a social media delay for those between the ages of 13 and 17."
