How are Australian kids bypassing the TikTok age ban?

Children are changing their birth years on their TikTok accounts to appear over 25, thus circumventing the ban for under 16s.

Is the Australian social media ban for minors working?

The ban is largely ineffective as implemented, with children easily bypassing age verification measures on platforms like TikTok.

Who is responsible for enforcing the TikTok ban for Australian teens?

The ban's success depends significantly on parents actively enforcing the restrictions at home, as technical measures have proven inadequate.

Home / Technology / Social Media Ban Flops: Kids Outsmart Age Limits

Social Media Ban Flops: Kids Outsmart Age Limits

13 Dec

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Summary

TikTok ban for under 16s ineffective due to easy age circumvention.
Children changed birth years to appear over 25 on the platform.
Ban's success hinges on parental enforcement, not just government policy.

Social Media Ban Flops: Kids Outsmart Age Limits

A recently implemented social media ban for individuals under 16 in Australia has quickly demonstrated its limitations, with many children easily circumventing the new regulations. Despite TikTok's advanced algorithms, which are known for precise user profiling, the platform has been unable to detect accounts where users have manipulated their birth year to falsely claim they are over 25. This loophole allows underage users to continue accessing content, rendering the ban ineffective in practice.

The current situation underscores a significant flaw in the government's approach: the ban's efficacy relies heavily on parental supervision rather than solely on technological measures. Reports indicate that children have resorted to changing their birth dates, rendering official age verification methods useless. This has led to a scenario where the government's considerable expenditure on this initiative, including international showcases, appears to have yielded minimal practical results.