Australia's Under‑16 Social Media Ban Proves Ineffective

In December 2022 Australia became the first country to enact a law blocking anyone under 16 from accessing major social‑media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat. A recent observational study found that about 85 % of youths still use these services, indicating the ban has little effect. Researchers suggested that restricting already‑active users is futile and that delaying access for children under eight might be more impactful.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government is reviewing stronger enforcement measures, including granting the e‑Safety Commissioner greater powers and threatening fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars for platforms that fail to comply. The move follows reports that many teenagers bypass age checks through loopholes, and it echoes similar discussions in the UK, the US and several European and Asian nations.