A new study has found that nearly 80% of underage children in Australia continue to use social media despite the country’s strict restrictions aimed at limiting access for minors.
The findings highlight the challenges of enforcing age-based bans, with many children reportedly bypassing platform safeguards by using inaccurate birth dates, existing accounts, or accounts created with assistance from family members.
The report has renewed concerns among child safety advocates and policymakers, who say stronger age-verification measures and improved parental oversight are needed to better protect young users online.
Australia has introduced some of the world’s toughest social media regulations to reduce children’s exposure to cyberbullying, harmful content, online predators, and the mental health risks associated with excessive social media use.
However, the latest data suggests that the majority of underage users are still able to access social media platforms, raising questions about the effectiveness of current enforcement measures.
Experts believe that technology companies, government regulators, schools, and parents must work together to strengthen online safety while ensuring children’s privacy and digital rights are respected.
More Than Four in Five Under-16s in Australia Still Using Social Media Despite Ban, Study Finds
A recent study has found that more than 80% of Australian children under the age of 16 continue to use social media despite a nationwide ban introduced late last year.
Australia became the first country in the world to impose a minimum age of 16 for social media users, with the restrictions taking effect in December 2025. The law covers major platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Snapchat.
Despite the new legislation, researchers found little evidence that the ban has significantly reduced social media use among younger users.
The study, carried out by the University of Newcastle, surveyed 408 children and teenagers aged 12 to 17 and concluded that enforcement of the age restrictions remains weak.
Researchers said the findings show that government-imposed age limits alone have not been enough to reduce social media use among children under 16. The results are particularly important as several countries are considering adopting similar policies based on Australia’s approach.
The research assessed the first three months of the ban, covering the period from December to February, and found only a slight decline in daily social media use.
According to the study, inadequate age-verification systems remain one of the biggest challenges. Around 85% of participants reported continuing to use social media after the ban, while half said they were still using their own accounts.
Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they had successfully passed age-verification checks, while others admitted circumventing the restrictions by creating fake accounts or using virtual private networks (VPNs).
The researchers suggested that age-based restrictions may be more effective in preventing very young children—particularly those under the age of eight—from accessing social media. However, they appear to have limited impact on children aged 10 and above who were already active users before the ban.
Experts said the findings demonstrate that legislation alone cannot fully address online safety concerns. Although it is still too early to judge whether Australia’s social media ban has failed, they believe the results highlight the need for stronger enforcement, more effective age-verification systems, and broader measures to better protect children online.
