Australia social media ban: Parents support restrictions as children find ways to bypass age limits

Research from Edith Cowan University and Playgroup WA indicates that Australian parents largely support the government’s ban on social media for children under 16. Despite 96% of surveyed parents using social media daily for information and connection, many recognize significant risks to children, including bullying, addiction, brain development, and online predators. Nearly half of the respondents believe children should wait until at least age 16 before using internet-enabled smartphones.

However, reports suggest that some children are finding ways to circumvent these restrictions. Some young users have admitted to fabricating birth dates or using deceptive methods, such as photographing sleeping parents, to bypass visual verification prompts on various platforms. While some parents use the ban to protect children from online bullying, others face challenges as children become more creative in defying age requirements to maintain social connections on apps like Snapchat and Instagram.