Eight in 10 young people are still accessing social media in Australia despite a ban for under-16s having come into force, a new study suggests. Researchers warned age verification checks are being bypassed and admitted there is so far little evidence of immediate reductions in kids' social media use.
Study Details and Findings
The study, conducted by Australia's University of Newcastle and published by The BMJ, surveyed 408 children aged 12 to 17 just before restrictions were introduced in December and again three months later. Some 85% of participants aged under 16 reported still using social media platforms covered by the ban, mainly under their own accounts.
Of these, two-thirds encountered some form of age verification, most commonly self-declared age or uploading a picture. Almost a fifth reported using a fake account to get around restrictions, while around 10% said they used a private browser.
Implications for UK Ban
Keir Starmer last week unveiled a social media ban for under-16s in the UK, likely to be in place by early spring 2027. The PM admitted it won't be a silver bullet, highlighting how kids still find ways to get around the under-18s alcohol ban. The Australian study suggests a majority of youngsters are circumventing the ban, which came into force in December.
The paper stated: "The findings suggest that the period immediately after introduction of the Act was characterised by limited implementation, incomplete compliance, and substantial circumvention of social media restrictions." Researchers said while there was "insufficient evidence of any substantive early effects" of the ban, the "potential benefits of the legislative change take time to manifest and often require investment in accountability and education mechanisms."
Reactions and Expert Comments
Separate research by the Molly Rose Foundation (MRF) previously suggested three in five (61%) Australian 12 to 15 year-olds still have access to one or more accounts on restricted platforms. Andy Burrows, MRF's chief executive, said: "This important research shows that Australia’s social media ban has failed to keep under-16s off restricted platforms, nor made any meaningful difference to how long teenagers spend using high-risk sites. Keir Starmer announced a ban without a plan, and unless ministers have a coherent plan to urgently learn lessons, the UK’s ban will similarly unravel."
MRF, set up in memory of 14-year-old Molly Russell, has long been against a ban. Many other campaigners, including bereaved parents, have welcomed the UK's ban, hailing it a "watershed moment for child protection."
Government Response
A Government spokeswoman said: "Our approach goes further than the Australia model and will be underpinned by stronger, more effective age verification checks to make it far harder for children to get round safeguards. As the Technology Secretary has made clear, this ban is as much about helping future generations, and resetting social norms in future, as it is about young people today."
