Majority of Teens Defy Social Media Ban Amid Weak Age Checks
WHO:
ABC News - eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated, “I don’t have potent powers,” regarding her regulatory capabilities.
ABC News - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
ABC News - eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant
ABC News - Melbourne’s RMIT University expert on information sciences Lisa Given
WHAT:
ABC News - The Australian government is considering options to strengthen the ban on social media for children under 16, as the current law has been deemed ineffective.
ABC News - A study published in the British Medical Journal found that 85% of a group of Australian 12 to 17-year-olds were using restricted platforms.
ABC News - The Australian government plans to proceed with digital duty of care legislation to hold platforms accountable for foreseeable harms caused by content and algorithms.
ABC News - Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, Kick, Reddit, Threads, and Twitch face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($34 million) if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove the accounts of young children.
ABC News - A study published in the British Medical Journal found that 85% of Australian 12 to 17-year-olds were using restricted platforms, indicating a significant ongoing issue with compliance to the ban.
Techmeme - A study of 408 teens in Australia found that over 80% were still using social media three months after a ban was implemented.
ABC News - The Australian government plans to strengthen laws banning children younger than 16 from social media platforms.
ABC News - The ban on young children holding accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube has been deemed ineffective since its implementation on December 10 of the previous year.
ABC News - eSafety's data released in March indicated that seven in ten underage children continued to hold accounts on social media platforms since December.
ABC News - A study published in the British Medical Journal found that 85% of Australian 12 to 17-year-olds were using restricted platforms.
WHERE:
ABC News - Australia
ABC News - Melbourne, Australia
WHEN:
ABC News - The ban on social media accounts for children under 16 came into force on December 10 of the previous year.
ABC News - Albanese mentioned the government's priority to strengthen the ban during a parliamentary session on a Thursday.
ABC News - Inman Grant indicated in an interview in early June that she lacked sufficient regulatory powers.
WHY:
ABC News - Experts argue that the current law is insufficient to prevent children from accessing harmful content online, indicating a need for a more effective strategy.
ABC News - Experts argue that the current law is not enough to stop children from accessing harmful content online, suggesting that a more convincing strategy is required.
ABC News - The government is responding to evidence that the existing ban has failed to prevent children from accessing social media.
ABC News - Albanese stated that the complexity of the issue is due to challenges that previous generations did not face.
HOW:
ABC News - The government plans to proceed with digital duty of care legislation to hold platforms accountable for foreseeable harms caused by content and algorithms.
ABC News - The government is considering options to strengthen the ban and is also proceeding with digital duty of care legislation to hold platforms accountable for foreseeable harms caused by content and algorithms.
ABC News - Inman Grant is considering court action against social media platforms for not adequately preventing young children from accessing their services.
(UPDATED June 26, 2026 17:31 UTC)
The Australian government is exploring ways to strengthen the ban on social media for children under 16, as current regulations have proven ineffective, with a study revealing that 85% of Australian teens aged 12 to 17 are using restricted platforms. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant acknowledged her limited regulatory powers, highlighting the need for a more effective strategy to protect children from harmful online content. To address these concerns, the government plans to implement digital duty of care legislation, which would hold platforms accountable for foreseeable harms caused by their content and algorithms.
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(UPDATED June 26, 2026 13:38 UTC)
The Australian government is moving forward with digital duty of care legislation aimed at holding social media platforms accountable for foreseeable harms linked to their content and algorithms. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok could face hefty fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, or about 34 million dollars, if they don't take adequate measures to remove accounts belonging to young children. A recent study revealed that 85% of Australian teens aged 12 to 17 are using restricted platforms, highlighting ongoing challenges with compliance to existing bans.
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(UPDATED June 26, 2026 11:55 UTC)
Australia's government is taking steps to strengthen laws that ban children under 16 from social media platforms, as a recent study revealed that over 80% of teens continued using these sites even after a ban was implemented. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the need for more effective measures during a parliamentary session, while eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant expressed concerns about lacking sufficient regulatory powers to enforce the ban. The government is exploring options to enhance the ban and is also moving forward with digital duty of care legislation to hold platforms accountable for the harms caused by their content and algorithms.