Australia's Social Media Ban Fails to Cut Teen Access

Despite Australia’s new law prohibiting social media access for users under 16, a recent study reveals that 20% of adolescents aged 13-15 continue to use TikTok. The analysis, conducted by parental control platform Qustodio, evaluated app usage trends from November 2024 to February 2026 and revealed a modest reduction in overall social media engagement among minors but significant continued access to TikTok. Notably, Snapchat saw a decline in user engagement, while YouTube maintained high usage rates amongst teens.

The implications of these findings raise questions about the effectiveness of such bans in genuinely protecting minors. While some platforms like Snapchat experienced noticeable drops in usage, the sustained access to TikTok and other platforms suggests minors are adept at circumventing restrictions, potentially through methods like VPNs or parental permission. This points to a need for more effective regulatory measures to ensure that policies align with the realities of young users' digital behaviors.