85% of kids are still using social media despite ban
Despite Australia's ban on social media for under-16s, 85% of children still use platforms like TikTok and Instagram, often with parental support. Critics argue the ban fails by targeting age restrictions rather than platform design and corporate accountability.
Background
The Australian government passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024, banning under-16s from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and X — the world's strictest such law. It passed with bipartisan support in November 2024 and takes full effect in late 2025/early 2026. Platforms must take "reasonable steps" to exclude minors or face fines up to AUD $50 million. Critics argue age-verification tech (facial analysis, government ID checks, behavioural inference) is invasive, immature and easily circumvented; privacy and digital rights groups oppose it. The article reports new survey data showing 85% of 12–15-year-olds were still on social media eight weeks after the ban passed, suggesting enforcement will be extremely difficult — and that "success" of such a ban should be measured by factors like improved well-being and digital literacy, not just removal rates.