Australia Moves to Strengthen Social Media Ban for Under-16s Despite Limited Early Impact

Australia’s government plans to reinforce its landmark social media ban for children, even as early research suggests the measure has had only a limited effect on teenage online activity. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government remains committed to ensuring the legislation is as robust as possible before it faces potential legal challenges.

The law, which has now been in force for six months, prevents major social media platforms, including Instagram and YouTube, from allowing children under the age of 16 to create accounts. The government intends to carry out further testing of the legislation to ensure it can withstand scrutiny and remain effective.

Government Seeks Stronger Legal Framework

Anthony Albanese said the priority is to make sure the legislation is as strong as possible and capable of surviving any legal challenges. He also highlighted the importance of giving the eSafety Commission sufficient authority to enforce the rules effectively.

However, the prime minister did not outline any additional measures the government may introduce. Meanwhile, the eSafety Commission declined to comment on any future enforcement plans.

The Australian government views the legislation as a significant step towards protecting young people online. Consequently, officials continue to focus on strengthening the regulatory framework rather than weakening its requirements.

Global Attention on Australia’s Approach

Australia’s social media restrictions have attracted international attention as governments worldwide explore ways to reduce potential online harms affecting young people. Concerns over the mental and physical wellbeing of children have encouraged several countries to consider similar measures.

Britain has already announced plans for broader restrictions that would extend beyond traditional social media platforms. Under those proposals, gaming services and live-streaming platforms would also fall within the scope of new regulations.

At the same time, Australia’s eSafety Commission and Communications Minister Anika Wells have indicated they are preparing legal action against several platforms. Companies found to have systematically failed to comply with the legislation could face fines of up to A$49.5 million.

Reddit has also launched a High Court challenge against the legislation. The legal proceedings remain at the preliminary hearing stage, while the company was not immediately available for comment.

Study Finds Teen Usage Remains Largely Unchanged

Although early reports suggested that millions of accounts had been shut down after the law came into effect last December, more recent evidence paints a different picture. Parents have reported little noticeable change in teenage social media habits, and academic research has reached a similar conclusion.

A study published this week in the British Medical Journal examined the experiences of 408 Australian adolescents aged between 12 and 15. The research found that 85% of participants were still using social media three months after the restrictions took effect.

The study also reported that around two-thirds of underage users continued accessing platforms by declaring they were over 16 or by submitting a selfie that platforms accepted as verification of an older age.

Researchers concluded that, despite the legislation’s aim of delaying children’s access to social media and reducing potential online harms, there was little immediate evidence of a substantial decline in reported social media use among adolescents.

With inputs from Reuters