Australia's Ban on Under-16 Social Media Use Ineffective, Study Finds
Summary
A new study says Australia’s under-16 social media ban has done little to reduce access, with more than 8 in 10 children still active on at least one platform. The report points to weak age verification, while the government says the policy has still sparked a national debate on digital safety.
Key Points
- Australia’s under-16 social media ban has not significantly reduced usage, according to a new report from the Internet Safety Regulator eSafety.
- More than 81% of children aged 10 to 15 were still using at least one age-restricted platform months after the ban took effect.
- The report says weak age verification allowed children to keep old accounts or create new ones, often by entering false birth dates or using VPNs.
- Australian officials say the law is still effective in prompting action from platforms and raising awareness about children’s digital safety.
