Australia’s under‑16 social‑media ban proves ineffective

Australia became the first country to ban children under 16 from having accounts on major social‑media platforms when the law took effect in December 2025. The legislation requires platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat to take “reasonable steps” to prevent under‑age accounts, with fines of up to A$49.5 million for non‑compliance.

A study published in the British Medical Journal surveyed 408 Australian teenagers three months after the ban began. More than 85 % of participants aged 12‑15 still used social‑media platforms, with little change in daily usage. Most circum‑vented the restrictions by falsifying their age, using a parent’s account, uploading a selfie that the platform accepted as proof of age, or employing private‑browser tools. The researchers wrote, “We did not find sufficient evidence to conclude that the implementation of this law had substantial short‑term effects on social‑media use among adolescents under 16.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, responding to the findings, said the government would “make sure the laws are as strict as possible and will withstand any legal challenges.” He announced plans to give the eSafety Commissioner greater enforcement powers and to consider tougher legal actions against platforms that fail to comply. The Australian move is being watched by other nations contemplating similar age‑based bans.

Key quotation: “We want to ensure the laws are as strong as possible and that they will survive any legal challenges,” Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.