Two-Thirds of Australian Teens Continue Accessing Social Media Despite Under-16s Ban

A comprehensive survey has revealed that the majority of Australian adolescents aged 12 to 15 retain active accounts on restricted social media platforms, casting doubt on the effectiveness of legislation introduced last December.

According to research conducted by the Molly Rose Foundation, approximately 66 percent of young users who had accounts before the prohibition took effect maintain ongoing access to at least one restricted platform. The poll, which surveyed 1,050 children, found that roughly half could still use TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram—the three most widely used services. When Facebook and Snapchat were included in the analysis, the figure rose to nearly two-thirds of respondents.

The survey uncovered significant obstacles to the ban's implementation. Around 70 percent of children still accessing these platforms reported that circumventing the restrictions was straightforward, while more than half indicated that the ban had minimal impact on their online security.

Platform Accountability Questions Raised

The Molly Rose Foundation attributed these findings to what it characterized as inadequate enforcement by social media operators, suggesting that major technology firms have neither detected nor removed underage accounts effectively. The organization warned that similar legislation being contemplated in the United Kingdom would represent a "significant risk" given the Australian experience.

"These results raise major questions about the effectiveness of Australia's social media ban and show it would be a high stakes gamble for the UK to follow suit now," stated Andy Burrows, the foundation's director. "The early evidence from Australia shows it only lets tech firms off the hook and fails to give children the step change in online safety and wellbeing they need."

Regulatory Gaps Identified

Australia's e-safety commissioner released findings last month documenting "significant shortcomings" in how platforms including Meta, YouTube, and TikTok have enforced the age restrictions. The report noted that these companies have permitted minors to make multiple age verification attempts, effectively allowing them to eventually bypass the safeguards.

While recognizing that addressing the deliberately addictive design patterns embedded in social media applications remains essential, the Molly Rose Foundation contended that more comprehensive regulatory reform is necessary. The organization advocated for stronger legislation targeting "business models that prioritize revenue generation over user protection" rather than straightforward access bans.

UK Policy Implications

As the British government examines social media regulation and considers potential restrictions on addictive design mechanisms, the foundation's leadership emphasized the importance of learning from Australia's experience.

"Keir Starmer has the chance to make the UK a world leader in online safety by following the evidence with robust new laws that give parents what they're rightly demanding," said Ian Russell, chair of the Molly Rose Foundation. "The cost is too high to get this wrong by rushing into an Australia-style ban that offers the perception of security but is letting children down in practice."

The Independent has requested responses from TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram regarding the survey's conclusions.