New Research Shows Significant Non-Compliance with Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban Australia implemented a pioneering ban on social media accounts for individuals under 16 years old in late 2025, aiming to protect young people from online harms such as cyberbullying, addiction, and exposure to harmful content. However, new research indicates that the ban has not been fully effective. Surveys reveal that nearly two-thirds of underage users who had accounts on major platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok before the ban have maintained access afterward. This includes workarounds such as using VPNs, false age declarations, or parental devices. One compliance report highlighted that about one-third of parents reported their children still had at least one active social media account, with many platforms failing to properly verify ages. While the Australian government has removed millions of accounts and is preparing enforcement actions against non-compliant companies, experts note ongoing challenges in enforcement due to the global nature of these platforms. The findings come amid international interest, with countries like the UK, Malaysia, and others considering similar measures. Supporters argue the ban addresses real issues, with pre-ban statistics showing high rates of harmful content exposure among Australian youth. Critics point to evasion tactics and question the long-term effectiveness without stronger international cooperation and parental involvement. Overall, the research underscores the difficulties in regulating digital spaces for minors while highlighting the need for continued monitoring and potential policy adjustments.

New Research Shows Significant Non-Compliance with Australia's Under-16 Social Media Ban

🤖 IA: It's clickbait ⚠️
👥 Usuarios: It's clickbait ⚠️

#socialmediaban #australia #underageusers

View full AI summary:

🚨Australia struggles to enforce world's first child social media ban #Australia #SocialMediaBan

In the debate about a social media ban for kids and teenagers I hear often that a trustable und privacy-secure age verification is not possible. But it is. I explain why and how: www.droid-boy.de/privacy-secure-age-verif... #socialmediaban #digitalsovereighnity

A majority of Australian children still use restricted social media apps despite the ban for under-16s, major new polling of young people shows. Three in five (61%) Australian 12-15 year-olds who had accounts on restricted platforms before the ban came into force still have access to one or more accounts. Major platforms have retained a majority of their child users, with 53% of previous TikTok users, 53% of YouTube users and 52% of Instagram users still able to access an account on these platforms. The first major polling of 1,050 children aged 12-15 was conducted by Molly Rose Foundation and YouthInsight, Australia's largest online youth panel. Molly Rose Foundation warns this data raises major question marks about the effectiveness of Australia's social media ban, and that given the findings it would be a 'high stakes gamble' for the UK to follow suit at this stage.

This will shock you but …

More than 60% of Australian children still using social media despite ban for under-16s, research shows mollyrosefoundation.org/more-than-60...

#OnlineSafetyAct #socialmediaban #childrights #censorship #openweb #techpolicy

🔥 What’s next for France’s #SocialMediaBan on minors? The clock is now ticking in Brussels!
France notified its proposal to the EC, triggering a standstill until 10 July, during which the legislation should not be enacted.
🔗 technical-regulation-information-system.ec.europa.eu/en/notificat...

Two thirds of underage Australians still have access to social media despite ban, new research suggests 🇦🇺 #socialmediaban #socialmedia #Instagramban #socialmediaAddiction news.sky.com/story/two-th...

Greece Bans Social Media for Under-15s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, calls on EU leaders to take a collective approach to social media regulation for children.

Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, calls on EU leaders to take a collective approach to social media regulation for children.

Full story below 👇
www.digit.fyi/greece-bans-...
#Tech | #News | #SocialMediaBan

Greece Bans Social Media for Under-15s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, calls on EU leaders to take a collective approach to social media regulation for children.

Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, calls on EU leaders to take a collective approach to social media regulation for children.

Full story below 👇

www.digit.fyi/greece-bans-...

#Tech | #News | #SocialMediaBan

Countries worldwide are implementing bans on social media for children under 16 to combat cyberbullying and mental health issues. #SocialMediaBan #YouthSafety #DigitalWellness Link: thedailytechfeed.com/global-push-...

Another country is tightening the screws: Teenagers will be completely blocked from social media in Greece Greece will introduce a ban on the use of social media for children under the age of 15 from the beginning of 2027. This was announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a video message posted on TikTok. In his speech, he emphasized anxiety issues, sleep disorders, and the platforms’ use of addictive mechanics as […] Post Another country is tightening the screws: Teenagers will be completely blocked from social media in Greece at Root-Nation.com.

Another country is tightening the screws: Teenagers will be completely blocked from social media in Greece #Greece #SocialMediaBan #Teenagers #DigitalSafety #AgeRestrictions

Original post on eupolicy.social

"#Australia says it can’t go it alone on #SocialMediaBan for kids" is the "Help us open Hormuz" of tech policy:

Doing the wrong thing despite everyone telling you it ain't the solution and then complaining about others not helping when you fail.

Even the Australian rep to the #EU now admits […]

Letting kids on social media is like sending them to Mars (and other bizarre analogies) — CRIN Are policies that deny children access to social media just "restrictions" or outright bans? And is letting children on social media more like sending them to Mars or to a nightclub? Language and met...

“Letting kids on social media is like sending them to Mars (and other bizarre analogies)” — CRIN

home.crin.org/the-big-deba... #BigDebates #SocialMediaBan #ChildRights #Privacy #ChildProtection

The social media ban isn’t working. Now what? - 7am The first official report from eSafety on how the government’s under-16 social media ban is going has been released. And the early picture is grim. Kids are getting around the ban, and eSafety says it has seen no drop in cyberbullying or abuse reports involving children on those platforms. So is this just a messy start, with the government right to ask for more patience? Or is it proving that you can’t fix platforms built to hook young people simply by trying to lock them out? Today, associate editor for Crikey, Cam Wilson, on why the ban isn’t working – and whether Australia is focusing on the wrong solutions. If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support. Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram Guest: Associate editor of Crikey, Cam Wilson Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

@camwilson has a chat with Daniel James on 7am about why the social media ban isn't working.

omny.fm/shows/7am/the-social-med...

#auspol #socialmedia #socialmediaban

Active social media use in the UK has fallen sharply, according to media watchdog Ofcom, with people posting less often and becoming more cautious over how they approach online content. Ofcom research published on Thursday showed the number of people who think the benefits of being online outweigh the risks had also dropped — to 59 per cent, down from 72 per cent last year — with many feeling they spend too long on devices.

Active social media use drops as Britons become more cautious online www.ft.com/content/0e7f... (£)

New Ofcom research findings www.ofcom.org.uk/media-use-an...

#OnlineSafetyAct #ageverification #socialmediaban #censorship #openweb #techpolicy

I´m not young anymore, I´m 55 yet, and so far I never had a smartphone/cellphone. But if the #SocialMediaBan for kids/teens younger than 14´ll come to Germany I´ll probably need my very first one, to identify here, on X, on Printerst and on Quora...
😱😱😱

#Australia readies #SocialMedia court action citing teen ban breaches

www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-e...

#privacy #AgeVerification #SocialMediaBan

Banning children from social media is not the answer.

Millions use it to connect, engage and empower others and themselves, as this young person shows.

It is often seen as a lifeline for children looking to understand themselves and the world around them. #socialmediaban #childrensrights

Disconnected: The Quiet After The Scroll - Mute Doodle Den Poland is planning to ban anyone under 15 from using social media. That includes me, and I’m not someone who’s just going to sit quietly while that happens.

I cannot simply stand by when I see injustice, which is exactly why I am sharing this poem. I will always make sure my voice is heard.

mutedoodleden.com/disconnected...

#SocialMediaBan #Poland #ChildrensRights

@sobukira.bsky.social @snowcalmth.com

300 UK teens just had Instagram & TikTok ripped from their phones in a live govt trial. Banned, capped or blacked out overnight - for 6 weeks straight. Cambridge tracks what happens next.

Australia already banned under-16s.

The UK is deciding. 👀

#TheLolgic #ireland #scotland #SocialMediaBan

#socialmediaban #under16 #meta #tiktok #google #snapchat #auspol #opinion

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Protecting the next generation is now a global priority. In 2026, the #SocialMediaBan movement is sweeping across nations to prioritize #DigitalSafety for children everywhere.

On Wednesday, Apple unveiled new device-level age restrictions in the UK. After downloading a new update, users will now have to confirm that they are 18 or older to access unrestricted features. Users will be able to confirm their age with a credit card or by scanning an ID. For those underage or who have not confirmed their age, Apple will turn on Web Content Filter and Communication Safety, which will not only restrict access to certain apps or websites, but will also monitor messages, shared photo albums, AirDrop, and FaceTime calls for nudity. Apple didn’t specify exactly which services and features are banned for under-18 users, but it will likely be in compliance with UK legislation. Gizmodo reached out to the Cupertino giant for comment, and we’ll update this post when we receive a reply. The British government does not require Apple and other OS providers to institute device-level age checks, but it does restrict minor access to online pornography under the Online Safety Act, which passed in 2023. So far, that restriction has only been implemented at the website level, but UK officials have been worried about easy loopholes to evade the age restrictions, like VPNs. The broader tech industry has been campaigning for some time to use device-level age checks instead in response to the rising tide of under-16 social media and internet bans around the world. Last month, in a landmark social media trial in California, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also supported this idea, saying that conducting age verification “at the level of the phone is just a lot clearer than having every single app out there have to do this separately.” Pornhub-operator Aylo had advocated for device-level restrictions in the UK as well, and even sent out letters to Apple, Google, and Microsoft in November asking for OS-level age verification. At the time, British authorities had responded to Aylo, saying that OS-level restrictions would have to be industry-led, as nothing was stopping these tech companies from implementing the method and showing evidence of its effectiveness. The most obvious question: Could this be brought stateside? Many states have already passed legislation restricting the activity of minors on the internet. Apple began working with Texas authorities late last year on the state’s new age restrictions that have since drawn legal backlash. Last month, the company announced that new users in Utah and Louisiana will have their age categories shared with the App Store starting this summer, to ensure compliance with the new age restriction laws in the states. The regulatory momentum is only growing in the United States, and states are increasingly seeking device-level restrictions. California passed its Digital Age Assurance Act last year, and the law would require users to enter their date of birth when setting up a new phone or computer to ensure OS-level restrictions when it goes into effect next year. Colorado is also seeking to follow in California’s footsteps. Earlier this year, state legislators introduced a device-level age restriction bill modeled after California’s.

#Apple Requires Device-Level #AgeVerification in the #UK Now. Could the #US Be Next?

gizmodo.com/apple-requires-device-le...

#privacy #cybersecurity #IdentityVerification #politics #SocialMediaBan #SocialMedia #iPhone #iOS

What’s behind the global push to ban social media for kids It started in Australia. Now dozens of countries are working on laws to keep younger kids away from social media. But do they really work?

Lawmakers around the world want to ban social media apps for children. What’s not clear is how well this approach is working. #socialmedia #childsafety #socialmediaban
www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-P...

This one for @thetimes.com of 30/3/26
I'm still a big fan of hand-drawn and -painted cartoons. Here, all the colour is done digitally. I rather like it. Should I try it more often?
#socialmediaban #kidsonline #doomscrolling #socialmedia #algorithm

Indonesia's social media ban has sparked debate! We dive into the implications for online freedom and data security in our latest article....

#Technology #BreachAndBuild #Indonesia #SocialMediaBan #DigitalRights

breachandbuild.com/indonesia-social-media-b...

Austria plans social media ban for under-14s The proposed under-14 ban follows similar steps in other European countries, including France and Spain.

#Austria becomes latest to propose #SocialMediaBan for children

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyv70de9exo

#privacy #AgeVerification #IdentityVerification #SocialMedia

🔥 Austria is also looking into a social media ban for minors, albeit under 14s!
State Secretary Alexander Pröll announced plans to ban under-14s, with a draft law expected by the end of June.
🔗 DW: www.dw.com/en/austria-p...
#SocialMediaBan #DigitalAge #AgeVerification

Looking for nostalgic, magical read for the kids?

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A cozy kids' read for fall and winter seasons.

www.amazon.com.au/Housie-Mousi... #kidlitartpostcard #beaver #rodent #beaverbook #dogbook #rodentbook #piano #food #celebrations #winter #fall #readers #screentimealternative #socialmediaban #literacymatters #momsky #present #easter also in #audiobook

Luna The Moon Pig: The Pig Who Hid : Davies, Suzy, Graber, Sheila: Amazon.com.au: Books Luna The Moon Pig: The Pig Who Hid : Davies, Suzy, Graber, Sheila: Amazon.com.au: Books

This wee piggy will keep the kids entertained!

www.amazon.com.au/Luna-Moon-Pi... #bookaddicts #kidsbooks #childrensbooks #Disney #screentimealternatives #readalong #bedtimestory #farmanimals #woodlandanimals #books2read #happyworldbookday #parenting #literacy #socialmediaban