Social media use on the rise among Australian under-16s after ban

In December, Australia enacted legislation restricting children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, with similar bans introduced in the UK, France, and other countries. Despite the ban, a study by parental control app Qustodio revealed a rise in social media usage among Australian children. The use of apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat among 10-12 and 13-15 year-olds increased, even nearing pre-ban levels for some platforms.

For instance, 25.9% of 13-15 year-olds were still using TikTok, only slightly lower than prior to the ban. Similarly, usage among 10-12 year-olds was only 0.06 percentage points below its pre-ban level. The data suggested children might be accessing these platforms using VPNs or by misrepresenting their age. Yasmin London, Qustodio's Global Online Safety Expert, speculated that the ban might not be as effective as intended.

In addition to social media, children were also turning to WhatsApp, an app unaffected by the ban. Australian officials stated the ban aimed to protect children from online bullying and malicious algorithms. Nevertheless, a peer-reviewed study by Australian researchers found limited evidence to support the notion that teenagers were abandoning social media due to the ban.

New Zealand's government has also introduced legislation that could impose fines on social media firms, including Meta, if they fail to comply with regulations.