70% of Teens in Australia Use Social Media Despite Bans

This new report shows most under-16 users are still finding their way online

Big Move, Limited Impact

When Australia had rolled out its ban on social media use for children under 16 late last year, it was seen as a decisive step to protect young users from online risks. But just into three months of this ban, the first official review suggests the reality is far more complicated.

A report from the country’s eSafety Commissioner shows that while platforms have acted against millions of underage accounts, with a large number of teenagers still using social media without much difficulty at all.

Millions of Accounts Taken Down

The data reveals and shows that around 4.7 million accounts linked to under-16 users have been removed, restricted, or deactivated since December. On top of that, more than 310,000 children were stopped from signing up or accessing these platforms altogether.

For a country with a population of about some 28 million, those numbers initially sound very impressive. But there’s an important detail behind them that these figures count accounts, not those individual users.

In simple terms, taking down one account doesn’t necessarily mean any single teenager has stopped using social media. Many are simply creating new profiles or finding other novel and secret ways to log in.

Most Teens Still Online

A survey of 898 parents and carers of children aged 8 to 15 highlights just how common this has become. About 70% said their child is still using social media despite the restrictions.

What stands out for everyone even more is how easily some children are slipping through the cracks. Nearly two-thirds of parents whose children remained online said the platforms had never asked for the children for their age verification.

That points to a major gap between the rules set by regulators and how they are actually enforced by tech companies.

No Real Drop in Harm Reports

One of the main goals of the ban was to reduce online harm. However, the report found no clear decline in complaints from children under 16.

Young users are still reporting issues at similar levels as before, suggesting that the ban has not yet made the online space noticeably safer for them.

Why the Ban Isn’t Working as Expected

For many experts, this outcome is not surprising. There has long been a view that simply blocking access would not solve the problem.

Social media has become deeply woven into how teenagers communicate and spend their time. It is where friendships are maintained, trends are followed, and conversations happen. Cutting off access entirely was always going to be difficult to enforce.

Instead of stepping away, many teens appear to be adapting finding quick and often simple ways around the system.

Stricter Measures on the Horizon

The eSafety Commissioner has acknowledged the gaps and signaled that stronger action may be coming. This could include tighter checks on platforms and possible penalties for those that fail to follow the rules.

Still, enforcing these laws may not be straightforward. The current framework leaves room for interpretation, which could make it harder to hold companies accountable.

A Work in Progress

Australia’s attempt to limit social media use among teens is still unfolding. The early results show that while the policy has made an impact on paper, it hasn’t fully changed behaviour on the ground.

The challenge now is not just about restricting access, but understanding how young people use these platforms and finding ways to make that experience safer in a realistic, lasting way.