Most Australian Teens Still Online Despite Under-16 Social Media Ban
Three months after Australia introduced a world-first ban on social media for children under 16, more than eight in 10 young Australians are still using the platforms, according to a study published on Friday by the country's internet regulator, eSafety. The report found that most children aged 10 to 15 were using social media just as frequently in March as they had been before the ban came into force on December 10 last year.
Regulator's findings
"Most under-16s who had social media accounts before commencement were able to either retain them or create new ones at the three-month mark, with social media platforms' failure to implement effective age assurance measures cited as the main reason," eSafety said in a statement. Around half of the children who retained their accounts said platforms had not checked their age, the most common reason they were able to stay on the services. Others said their accounts listed them as aged 16 or older, or that age-checking systems had incorrectly determined they were older.
Before the ban, nearly 86 percent of children surveyed reported using at least one age-restricted platform. Three months later, that figure remained above 81 percent, the report said. About 58 percent of teenagers reported using social media daily, barely down from roughly 60 percent before the ban. Account ownership declined from 52 percent to 42 percent, with "statistically significant" reductions across YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok in particular, the report said.
The report showed minimal change in "sports and physical activity, arts and music, spending time with friends and family, and attendance at community events."
Government defends the ban
The Australian government has defended the ban, which was introduced because of concerns about the effect of social media on the mental and physical health of children and young people. Its implementation is being closely watched by many nations that have since sought to introduce their own curbs.
Andrew Leigh, an Australian politician, argued that the ban has "reshaped the national debate" on social media and child safety.
Experts and broader concerns
At the time the new rule was introduced, experts warned that enforcing it would be extremely difficult. Joanna Orlando, a researcher in digital wellbeing and author of Generation Connected: How to Parent in a Digital World, was among those who voiced concerns.
Experts also warn of new risks to children's wellbeing from AI-generated content, which could pose additional challenges for regulators and parents alike.