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How much screen time for a 15 year old in Australia?
Up to 2 hours a day
Australia's guidelines recommend no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time a day for 14 to 17 year olds, plus 8 to 10 hours of sleep. The under-16 social media rules still apply until their 16th birthday.
Make a plan that fits your family
The guideline is a ceiling, not a target. Our free planner starts with your family's values, then works out a daily allowance for each child, with agreements you can print.
Make our family screen plan →Built by a registered psychologist with 20 years in child and family services. General information, not clinical advice.
The under-16 social media rules
Since 10 December 2025, ten platforms must take reasonable steps to stop under-16s having accounts: Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X and YouTube. Messaging apps and online games aren't covered. Platforms face the penalties, not children or parents.
Source: eSafety Commissioner, social media age restrictions. Last checked 22 October 2026.
What helps at this age
- Plan now for their 16th birthday: which apps, what settings, and what you'll check together.
- Late-night phone use is the biggest threat to sleep at this age. Agree a charging spot outside the bedroom.
- Shift from rules you set to agreements you make together.
- Keep schoolwork and recreational screen time separate where you can.
Common questions
What changes when my child turns 16?
They can legally hold accounts on age-restricted platforms. Before then, talk through privacy settings, who can contact them and what they'll share.
They need their phone for school. How do we limit it?
Separate study time from recreational time. Focus modes and app limits help, and the 2-hour guideline applies to recreational use.
Are teenagers still finding workarounds?
Yes, many are. A calm conversation about why the rules exist usually works better than surveillance alone.
Source: Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, Australian Government. Last checked 22 October 2026.