Australia's ban on social media for under-16s shows little short-term impact, study finds

Australia's pioneering ban on social media access for individuals under 16 has yielded minimal short-term results, a new study published in the British Medical Journal reveals. Researchers tracked over 400 young people aged 12 to 16 before and after the December implementation of the law, which imposes hefty fines on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok if they allow minors access. The study found that minors are circumventing the restrictions by creating fake accounts, using private browsers, or accessing platforms through older individuals' profiles. Daily social media use remained stable for 12- to 13-year-olds, slightly decreased for 14- to 15-year-olds, but actually increased for 16-year-olds. "We found little evidence of substantial immediate reductions in social media use by adolescents under 16," the study concluded. Researchers from the University of Newcastle, University of Adelaide, and Deakin University led the study. They noted that the law's potential benefits might not be evident for up to a decade, and their findings could inform future improvements to the regulations. Communications Minister Anika Wells previously accused tech companies of failing to comply with the legislation, prompting the eSafety commissioner to investigate five major platforms. Similar restrictions are being considered or implemented in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Spain.

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We found little evidence of substantial immediate reductions in social media use by adolescents under 16.