Australia's social media ban backfires: under-16s usage climbs back to pre-ban levels

Social media use on the rise among Australian under-16s after ban: data

Despite Australia's world-first ban on social media for under-16s, new data from parental control app Qustodio shows that usage among 10-15 year olds is rising again, nearly returning to pre-ban levels for some platforms. TikTok usage among 13-15 year olds is only one percentage point below pre-ban figures, and among 10-12 year olds it's nearly identical. Experts suggest kids may be using VPNs or lying about their age, but also note that the restrictions simply may not be working. The ban, aimed at protecting children from online bullying and predatory algorithms, has shown little effect according to a peer-reviewed study.