New Research Shows Significant Non-Compliance with Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 07:54:00 +0200

Australia implemented a pioneering ban on social media accounts for individuals under 16 years old in late 2025, aiming to protect young people from online harms such as cyberbullying, addiction, and exposure to harmful content. However, new research indicates that the ban has not been fully effective. Surveys reveal that nearly two-thirds of underage users who had accounts on major platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok before the ban have maintained access afterward. This includes workarounds such as using VPNs, false age declarations, or parental devices. One compliance report highlighted that about one-third of parents reported their children still had at least one active social media account, with many platforms failing to properly verify ages. While the Australian government has removed millions of accounts and is preparing enforcement actions against non-compliant companies, experts note ongoing challenges in enforcement due to the global nature of these platforms. The f