First reports point to lax implementation of Australian social media ban

Two months after Australia introduced its social media ban for minors, industry data suggests that roughly one-fifth of teenagers under 16 are still active on major platforms, raising questions about how effectively the new age-restriction rules are being enforced.

A report by parental control software company Qustodio found that the number of users aged 13 to 15 on platforms such as TikTok and Snapchat had declined by February compared with December, according to Australian media reports.

The findings represent some of the earliest indicators of how the ban is influencing young people’s online habits since the policy took effect. The legislation has drawn international attention and is being closely watched by governments around the world. Lawmakers in several European Union member states — including France, Poland, Spain and Slovenia — are preparing similar measures, as are authorities in Azerbaijan, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The Australian government, along with at least two university-led research projects, has been monitoring the impact of the restrictions. However, none of those studies have yet released official findings.

Under the legislation, major platforms — including Meta’s Instagram, Facebook and Threads, Google’s YouTube, as well as TikTok and Snapchat — must block users under 16 or risk fines of up to $35 million.

According to Qustodio’s data, the share of Australians aged 13–15 using Snapchat dropped by 13.8 percentage points to 20.3% between November and February. Usage of TikTok among the same age group fell by 5.7 percentage points to 21.2%.

The decline was less pronounced on YouTube. The proportion of under-16 users fell by only one percentage point to 36.9%, although the report did not specify whether those users were logged into accounts. Under the Australian rules, people of any age can still access YouTube without logging in.

A spokesperson for the country’s internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, said the office was aware that some minors remained active on social media platforms and was continuing oversight.

The regulator said it was “actively engaging with platforms and their age assurance providers … while continuing to monitor for any systemic failures that may amount to a breach of the law”.

Concerns that teenagers might migrate to unregulated or lesser-known platforms have not yet materialised, according to the data. However, messaging service WhatsApp has recorded a slight increase in usage among the age group.

By Nazrin Sadigova