Australia's social media ban for children under 16 has had little effect on reducing teenage usage, according to a peer-reviewed study published Thursday in the British Medical Journal. Researchers from Australia surveyed over 400 young social media users immediately before the ban took effect in December and again three months later, finding insufficient evidence of substantial changes in scrolling habits.
Circumvention Tactics Common
The study found that underage users have been dodging restrictions by using accounts registered to older individuals, setting up fake profiles, or logging into private browsers. For users aged 12-13, there was little change in social media use; for those aged 14-15, a slight decrease was observed, while usage increased among those aged 16 and older.
“We found insufficient evidence to conclude that exposure to the Act had any early substantial effects on social media use among adolescents aged under 16,” the researchers wrote. They noted that the period immediately after the ban was characterized by limited implementation, incomplete compliance, and substantial circumvention.
Global Interest in Australia's Approach
Australia's ban, which targets platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, was designed to protect children from online bullying and predatory algorithms. The law imposes fines of up to Aus$49.5 million (US$34 million) on tech companies that fail to demonstrate meaningful efforts to remove underage users. In March, Australia accused Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube of failing to meet their obligations.
Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the legislation, stating: “Australia’s world-leading social media laws are not failing. But big tech is failing to obey the laws. None of this is impossible. None of this is even difficult for big tech, who are innovative billion-dollar companies.” The nation's eSafety Commission also flagged significant concerns about Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
Growing Momentum for Similar Bans
There is strong global interest in whether Australia's laws could serve as a blueprint for regulating tech giants. Several nations, including the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand, have either introduced or are considering similar bans. However, platforms have warned that such measures could push teenagers into darker, unregulated corners of the internet.
The study adds to a growing body of research indicating that excessive screen time harms teen well-being, but it suggests that enforcement and compliance remain significant challenges. While Australia's ban has been hailed by parents, the early evidence indicates that without robust implementation, the restrictions may have limited impact.
