Australia’s landmark under-16 social media ban, which came into effect in December, is struggling to clear age-check hurdles, rendering the first-of-its-kind law ineffective, according to a testing firm. The law mandates that platforms including Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube bar people under 16 from having accounts. Since the ban’s implementation, complaints of cyberbullying on banned social media platforms increased 26 per cent when comparing January 2026 with January 2025, with complaints largely stemming from TikTok. The rise in complaints suggests that young users may still be accessing platforms despite the age restrictions, either by lying about their age or using workarounds such as VPNs and borrowed accounts.
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The Australian government has moved to strengthen the ban, introducing new laws in parliament to give its internet regulator more power to pursue tech giants in court for non-compliance. The regulator is investigating possible non-compliance by five platforms: Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Google’s YouTube. The strengthened enforcement measures aim to address the shortcomings identified in the initial implementation of the ban, with the government seeking to demonstrate that it is serious about protecting young people from online harms. The amendments include higher fines and the ability to issue infringement notices without lengthy court proceedings, expediting the compliance process.
The social media ban has been closely watched internationally as a pioneering effort to regulate children’s access to social media platforms. Supporters argue that the ban is necessary to protect young people from cyberbullying, online predators and the negative mental health impacts of social media, which have been linked to increased rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents. Critics contend that the ban is difficult to enforce effectively and may drive young people to less regulated corners of the internet, such as encrypted messaging apps or obscure forums, where they may be exposed to even greater risks. The enforcement challenges highlight the complexities of regulating global technology platforms through national legislation, especially when platforms are not based in Australia.
