Australia teen social media ban has little impact - study

Australia's pioneering social media ban for individuals under 16 has proven largely ineffective, according to a new study. Researchers found that teenagers are easily bypassing the restrictions, which were implemented in December to shield children from online bullying and "predatory algorithms."

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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.

In a peer-reviewed study published by the British Medical Journal, a team of Australian researchers surveyed over 400 young social media users before and three months after the ban took effect. Their findings indicate insufficient evidence that the law significantly altered adolescent social media use. Underage users have reportedly resorted to using accounts registered to older individuals, creating fake profiles, or employing private browsers to continue accessing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

The study noted a slight decrease in use for 14-15 year olds, little change for 12-13 year olds, and an increase for those aged 16 and older. "The findings suggest that the period immediately after the introduction of the act was characterised by limited implementation, incomplete compliance, and substantial circumvention of social media restrictions," the researchers wrote.

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

Despite the study's conclusions, there is significant global interest in Australia's legislation, with nations like the UK, Indonesia, the UAE, and New Zealand considering similar measures. Communications Minister Anika Wells previously stated that while the laws are not failing, "big tech is failing to obey the laws." Tech companies face substantial fines if they do not make meaningful efforts to remove underage users, with Australia having already accused Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube of not meeting their obligations.

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None of this is impossible. None of this is even difficult for big tech, who are innovative billion-dollar companies.