Supporting Healthy Digital Habits

Years 7-12 Pastoral Care Program

The rapid growth of social media use among young people continues to present challenges for families and schools alike. Research from The Mission Australia Youth Survey (2024) found that:

• 97% of young Australians use social media daily, and nearly 40% spend three+ hours per day
• High use is linked to increased psychological distress, loneliness and reduced wellbeing.

In addition to this, other associated risks include increased anxiety, disrupted sleep patterns, reduced attention span and exposure to inappropriate or harmful content. These concerns are particularly significant for adolescents, whose wellbeing and development can be strongly influenced by their online experiences.

In a similar manner to an age restriction on driving, the current government guidance is that social media platforms restricted to individuals 16 years and over. As a College, we support this position and expect that our students under 16 are not accessing or using social media. Delaying access helps protect students from the social, emotional and academic risks that can arise from premature engagement with these platforms. Just as young people take small steps towards understanding the risks and skills associated with driving a car, we help to prepare our students for these platforms as part of their regular Pastoral Care lessons. In these classes, students explore how to navigate relationships with their peers in digital and non-digital contexts. 

Our Years 5–8 Digital Communication Charter, developed with student voice and signed by families, outlines clear expectations for respectful and responsible online behaviour. While this document applies to our students in Years 5-8, there are valuable takeaways for all families to implement at home. The Charter reinforces important principles such as:

• prioritising face-to-face interactions
• communicating kindly and inclusively 
• adhering to age restrictions for online platforms. 

It also promotes healthy habits like disconnecting from devices overnight, with students agreeing not to send messages between 8:00pm and 7:00am to support rest and wellbeing.

One of the most concerning impacts of excessive technology use is its effect on sleep. A 2025–2026 evidence review, published in the Journal of National Sleep Health found that social media use is consistently associated with poorer sleep quality, especially when use is excessive or problematic. Further to this, the World Health Organisation reports that around one in 10 adolescents demonstrate problematic social media use, which is linked to poorer wellbeing and reduced sleep. Notifications, late-night messaging and screen exposure can significantly disrupt sleep cycles, which in turn affects mood, concentration, learning and overall health. Australian guidance from the Raising Children Network highlights that screen use in the hour before bed can delay sleep, reduce sleep quality and disrupt rest due to light exposure and ongoing notifications. Establishing consistent boundaries around technology use is essential in supporting adolescents’ development and wellbeing.

Practical strategies for families include:

• Keep devices out of bedrooms overnight to protect sleep quality.
• Establish device-free times, such as during meals, to encourage family connection.
• Use parental controls and monitoring settings on mobile devices.
• Support and reinforce the expectations outlined in the College’s Digital Communication Charter.
• Encourage open conversations about online behaviour and experiences, rather than surveillance.
• Apply rules consistently across weekdays and weekends for device use.
• Introduce a household digital curfew (e.g. all devices off by 8:00–9:00pm).
• Have all devices charged overnight in a shared family space (e.g. kitchen).
• Consider delaying smartphone ownership where possible.
• Actively promote offline options, such as participation in one of the many co-curricular opportunities at the College.
• If habits are already established:
  • Reduce screen use incrementally
  • Introduce one or two changes at a time.

Creating healthy digital habits is most effective when schools and families work together, with clear expectations, consistent routines and open communication supporting young people in using technology safely and in balance. By working together, we can help our young people develop healthy digital habits, build strong relationships and maintain a balanced approach to technology.

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