One in Five Australian Children Under 16 Still Using Social Media Despite Ban

One in Five Australian Children Under 16 Still Using Social Media Despite Ban
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A significant number of children in Australia continue to use social media platforms despite a nationwide ban on users under the age of 16, raising concerns about the effectiveness of age-verification systems used by major technology companies.

According to a new report by Qustodio, nearly one in five Australians under 16 are still accessing social media applications two months after the restriction came into force.

The study found that usage among teenagers aged 13 to 15 on popular platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat—both widely used by Australian teenagers—declined compared with the period before the ban was implemented in December. However, more than 20 percent of teenagers in this age group were still using the apps as of February.

The report is considered the first attempt to measure the impact of the ban on minors’ social media use. Meanwhile, the Australian government has commissioned two universities to conduct a broader study on the policy’s effects, though the results have not yet been released.

Under the new regulations, major technology companies—including Meta Platforms, which operates Instagram, Facebook, and Threads—as well as Google, which runs YouTube, must block users under 16 from accessing their platforms. Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately $35 million).