Is Australia's social media ban for under 16s effective?

A poll suggests that the ban has not had a clear positive or negative impact on children's wellbeing, with 70% of children finding it easy to get around the restrictions.

Do Australian teens still use social media despite the ban?

Yes, a study found that 61 percent of Australian children between 12 and 15 who previously had access to affected social media platforms still have one or more active accounts.

What are the consequences for social media platforms not complying with Australia's ban?

Australia's eSafety agency can issue infringement notices, seek court-ordered injunctions, and impose civil penalties up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance.

Home / Technology / Kids bypass Australia's age 16 social media ban easily

Kids bypass Australia's age 16 social media ban easily

13 Apr

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Summary

Most teens surveyed still have active social media accounts.
Seventy percent of teens found it easy to circumvent the ban.
The ban's effect on wellbeing is unclear, study suggests.

Kids bypass Australia's age 16 social media ban easily

Australia's pioneering social media ban for individuals under 16, implemented on December 10, is facing scrutiny regarding its effectiveness. A poll conducted by the Molly Rose Foundation among 1,050 Australian children aged 12-15 revealed that 61% of those previously using restricted platforms maintained active accounts.

Furthermore, the foundation's study indicated that the ban has not demonstrated a clear impact on children's wellbeing. A significant 70% of children attempting to access banned platforms reported ease in circumventing the restrictions. This raises substantial questions for other countries considering similar measures.

In parallel, the Australian government's March report highlighted investigations into major platforms like Snap, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for potential non-compliance. The eSafety agency is expected to conclude these investigations by mid-2026, with enforcement powers including substantial civil penalties.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.