Social media firms urge caution on early Australia under-16 ban data

Top social media platforms, including Google, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, have urged the Australian government to be cautious about relying on early data showing that most children continue to use their services despite a ban on under-16 users. The heads of these companies testified before a Senate inquiry as lawmakers pressed them for information on studies that suggest around 80% of minors were still on social media months after the ban, which took effect in December.

The inquiry comes as the eSafety Commissioner considers legal action against some platforms for allegedly delaying compliance, while the Commissioner herself indicated the ban is showing early signs of working but urged caution against over-reliance on the data.