Australian under-16s increase social media use despite ban, data shows

Despite Australia's world-leading ban on social media for under-16s, children are increasingly using platforms like Instagram and TikTok, data from parental control software company Qustodio revealed. The ban, implemented in December, initially saw a drop in social media activity across the board. However, usage has since climbed, approaching pre-ban levels for some applications.

Data from Qustodio shows a rise in social media use among 10 to 12-year-olds and 13 to 15-year-olds. Specifically, 25.9 percent of 13 to 15-year-olds are still using TikTok, only slightly lower than before the ban. For 10 to 12-year-olds, usage is just 0.06 percentage points below pre-ban levels.

Yasmin London, Global Online Safety Expert for Qustodio, suggested children might be using VPNs, obfuscating their ages, or that the restrictions are simply not working. The data also indicated a rise in children using WhatsApp, a messaging platform unaffected by the ban. Australian officials stated the ban aims to protect children from online bullying and predatory algorithms. However, a recent peer-reviewed study found little evidence that teenagers have reduced their social media consumption as a result of the ban.

“

They could be accessing these platforms with VPNs, or obfuscating their ages. But it could really be as simple as they're just accessing these apps because the restrictions aren't working.