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Australia teen social media ban has little impact: Research

From The Straits Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Australia's ban on social media for under-16s has shown little impact on teenagers' usage habits, according to a new study.
  • Researchers found that underage users are circumventing the restrictions through various methods, including using older siblings' accounts or creating fake profiles.
  • The findings raise questions about the effectiveness of the world-leading measures, as other nations consider similar bans.

Australia's pioneering social media ban for individuals under 16 has had a minimal effect on teenagers' online habits, researchers announced on June 25. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, is one of the first evaluations of the legislation implemented in December to shield children from online bullying and "predatory algorithms."

However, the research indicates that teenagers are largely evading the restrictions. Common methods include using accounts registered by older individuals, creating fake profiles, or employing private browsers to access platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. The study's authors found "insufficient evidence to conclude that exposure to the Act had any early substantial effects on social media use among adolescents aged under 16."

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

— ResearchersStating their findings on the impact of Australia's social media ban.

This limited impact is occurring despite significant global interest in Australia's laws as a potential model for other countries seeking to regulate powerful tech companies. Nations such as Britain, Indonesia, the UAE, and New Zealand are considering or have already introduced similar bans. The Australian researchers surveyed over 400 young social media users before and three months after the restrictions took effect, observing only minor changes in usage patterns for different age groups within the under-16 bracket.

Tech companies in Australia face substantial fines of up to AUD$49.5 million if they fail to demonstrate genuine efforts to remove underage users. Communications Minister Anika Wells has criticized big tech companies for not complying with the laws, stating, "Australia’s world-leading social media laws are not failing. But big tech is failing to obey the laws." Despite these measures, concerns persist that such bans could inadvertently push young users toward less regulated parts of the internet.

Australia’s world-leading social media laws are not failing. But big tech is failing to obey the laws

— Anika WellsAustralia's Communications Minister criticizing tech companies' compliance.
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Originally published by The Straits Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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