More than 80% of kids still using social media despite ban, new eSafety report finds
The report provides more evidence Australia’s world-leading social media ban isn’t going to plan.
A recent eSafety Commissioner report reveals that more than 80% of children continue to use social media platforms despite a ban that took effect three months prior. The study, based on surveys of 803 children aged 10-15 and their parents, shows that reductions in social media use have been "limited in scale". The primary reason for this is the "ineffective implementation of age assurance measures by platforms."
More than half of the children surveyed reported that platforms did not verify their age, with some intentionally lying about their age to avoid restrictions. The ban has also caused some unintended consequences, such as an increase in parents being unaware of their child's social media use. Despite these challenges, the report's release comes at a critical time as the government plans to strengthen compliance measures by increasing penalties and expanding the eSafety Commissioner's investigative powers.
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