Australian Teens Increase Social Media Use Despite Under-16 Ban

Social media use among Australian children under 16 is rising despite a government ban introduced eight months ago, according to data from Barcelona-based Qustodio.

The legislation was designed to protect children from online bullying and potentially harmful “predatory algorithms” and restricts access to major platforms operated by companies including Meta and ByteDance.

Experts suggest some children may be bypassing restrictions through tools such as VPNs or by providing false ages. No platforms have yet been fined under the Australian rules.

Yasmin London, Qustodio's global online safety expert, said the data shows the difficulty of enforcing age-based restrictions online.

Australia's experience is being closely watched internationally. New Zealand announced plans this week to introduce similar legislation, with proposed penalties that could reach 10% of a company's global revenue.

Related Tweet:

Social Media Use on the Rise Among Australian Under-16s After Banhttps://t.co/6mpAWZKXdq

— Asharq Al-Awsat English (@aawsat_eng) August 26, 2026

Also Read:

Australia’s Social Media Ban For Children Takes Effect

By Reuters via The Daily Signal | December 09, 2025 Australia has become the first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking access to platforms including TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube, and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook from midnight. Ten of the biggest platforms were ordered to block children

tippinsightsTIPP Staff