Archive · 31 Jul 2026
Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban Fails to Reduce Teen Use
Australia made a law that stops kids under 16 from using big social media sites like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
The law started on December 10, 2023.
A study found that most teens still use these sites after three months because the companies didn’t check ages well.
About 81% of teens were still online, and only a small drop in account numbers was seen.
The government is looking into the companies that didn’t follow the rule and may fine them up to A$99 million.
More than 80% of Australian teens still use social media three months after the under‑16 ban.
The ban caused only a small drop in account ownership, from 52% to 42%.
Tech firms failed to enforce age‑verification, allowing most under‑16s to keep or create accounts.
Parental awareness of children’s online activity fell, raising concerns about early intervention.
The regulator is investigating five major platforms and has doubled the maximum fine to A$99 million.
- Who
- Australian government, eSafety regulator, major tech firms (Meta, Snap, TikTok, Google)
- What
- Under‑16 social media ban and its limited impact on teen usage
- When
- Three months after the ban began in December 2023
- Where
- Australia
- Why
- To protect children’s mental and physical health
- Ban effective date
- December 10, 2023
- Target age group
- Under 16
- Teen usage after ban
- 81.5%
- Account ownership after ban
- 42%
- Maximum fine for non‑compliance
- A$99 million
Sources
8 in 10 Australian Teens Still on Social Media 3 Months After U16 Ban Began: Study
Most Under-16 Kids Still Actively Use Social Media Apps Despite Australia's Ban: Report
Australia’s social media ban sees only a small dip in teen users
