Australia's Teen Social Media Ban Flops: What It Means for UK?
Australia's Teen Social Media Ban Flops: What It Means for UK?
A new study reveals 85% of Australian under-16s still use social media despite a nationwide ban. Experts warn this has major implications for the UK's upcoming law. Dive into the findings!
A groundbreaking study out of Australia has revealed a stark reality: despite a national ban, an overwhelming 85% of under-16s are still actively using social media platforms. This finding comes just three months after legislation was enacted in December 2025, prohibiting those under 16 from having accounts on major platforms like TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.
The research, conducted by Australia's University of Newcastle, observed 408 adolescents aged 12 to 17. Their conclusion is unequivocal: Australia’s social media minimum age legislation has led to “limited implementation, incomplete compliance, and substantial circumvention of social media restrictions.” The study authors added that they found “insufficient evidence to conclude that exposure to the act [of parliament] had any early substantial effects on social media use among adolescents aged under 16 years.”
Australia holds the distinction of being the first country to implement such a broad ban on social media for children. However, the study's results cast a long shadow, carrying significant implications for a growing number of other nations considering similar measures. The UK, for instance, is set to introduce its own ban by 2027, which would block under-16s from accessing several popular platforms and restrict communication with strangers on gaming sites like Roblox.
Experts and campaigners, including those who published the research in the BMJ, are stressing that simply banning access is not enough to protect children from harmful online content. They argue that a more “convincing strategy is required” to genuinely tackle the issues associated with young people’s social media use. The Australian experience suggests that without robust enforcement, parental engagement, and perhaps more sophisticated technological solutions, such bans may prove largely ineffective.
