Four in five under-16s in Australia using social media despite ban, study shows
Summary
Australia banned social media use for children under 16 in December 2025, but a study shows over 80% of these children still use social media three months after the ban. The research found the ban had little effect because age checks are weak and many youths bypass restrictions using fake accounts or other methods.Key Facts
- Australia became the first country to ban social media accounts for children under 16 from platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and X.
- A study of 408 young people aged 12 to 17 found over 80% of under-16s kept using social media despite the ban.
- The law led to only a small reduction in daily social media use among teens.
- Age verification checks were mostly easy to bypass, with only a small number required to show official ID.
- About 15-19% of younger teens admitted to using fake accounts; around 3% used VPNs to hide their identity.
- Experts warn that banning social media alone does not stop children from accessing harmful content online.
- The study suggests bans might work better for very young children under eight, rather than teenagers who already use social media.
- UK plans to introduce a similar ban in 2027 may face challenges based on Australia’s experience.
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