No Scrolling? No Problem! How the Under-16s Ban Is A Chance to Help Animals
Australian laws now forbid under-16s from holding YouTube and other social media accounts. Just how much this restricts kids’ screen time remains to be seen, but some families report that they’re already bracing for boredom.
Happily, there’s a world of good out there, just waiting to be done, and a treasure trove of beautiful books, inspiring documentaries, empowering activities, and entertainment that young people can engage with instead of doomscrolling.
Here are our picks for boredom busters that boost self-esteem, help others, and make the world a kinder, greener place.
Veganise Your Kitchen
Cooking is a life skill that can launch a career, or make you popular at parties, and, with more and more humans hungry for compassionate cuisine, now’s the ideal time to learn how to cook delicious vegan food!
Vegan cooking is fun and innovative. You can turn chickpea juice into meringue, flax seeds into eggs, cashews into cheese, and kelp into caviar!
Animal-free fare is a great way to increase vegetable and fibre intake for whole body health, and you never need to stick your hand up a bird’s bum!
Check out the Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids from Ruby Roth for fun, simple recipes that will spark a lifelong love of compassionate cooking.
Turn the Page on Cruelty
Whether you’re a fan of fiction or like facts, reading opens up new worlds. Amid the pages of a great book, you can gain new insight into the unique personalities of animals used for food and how to help them.
Some titles to get you started: The Arrogant Ape, by Christine E. Webb, Animalkind, by Ingrid Newkirk, The Pig Who Sang to the Moon, by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, and PETA Person of the Year, 2025, Dr Goodall’s final inspiring work, The Book of Hope.
Plus, younger kids will love Colour With Kindness from the founders of Victorian rescue sanctuary Edgar’s Mission.
Delve into Documentaries
Tuning into stories you won’t hear in mainstream media is the perfect way to connect with your world. Watch Blackfish to learn how SeaWorld makes life miserable for marine animals, The Game Changers to understand how peak athletes perform with plants and Breaking the Chain to see how PETA fieldworkers change the world for companion animals. For older audiences, the Australian-made documentary Dominion lifts the veil on factory farming through the eyes of intrepid investigators, brought to life by Chris Delforce of the Farm Transparency Project.
Bring Compassion to Competition
No scrolling doesn’t have to mean no screens when you can game for good! Tend to your veggie patch and defend your legacy with Voltaire The Vegan Vampire, jump in the cage as an MMA star to fight cruelty to animals with PETA’s Cage Fight, or experience life on the streets as a homeless cat with Stray.
If tabletop games are more your vibe, Plants Against Veganity is a fun twist on the popular card game, while Bush Foods Snaps is quick, portable, and a joyous way to discover traditional plant foods from around the world, created by Dunghutti woman Debbie Hoger.
Explore – and Improve – The Great Outdoors
Ever heard of trash fishing? It’s like animal fishing, but, instead of hunting poor fish who have families and feelings, you snag and reel in rubbish that’s ruining our waterways!
Many people don’t realise that fishing gear is the world’s most significant source of ocean plastics, as well as being cruel, so deciding to hook some junk instead lets you allow nature, relaxation and quality time together, without hurting anyone.
Other compassionate ways to enjoy exercise and fresh air include volunteering at your local animal sanctuary, taking up bird watching, or offering to walk dogs who are awaiting their forever home in a shelter.
Speak up for Animals
Getting active for animals is a fantastic way to meet like-minded folk, make lifelong friendships, and change the world for animals who deserve to enjoy freedom and respect.
Join a march or protest, do some chalking to share vegan messages on streets and paths, and sign some PETA petitions for change. Sign up to PETA Australia’s Activist Network today to be the first to learn about events, demonstrations and actions in your area!
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