Most Australian teens still online three months after under-16 ban | Internet News
Australian Government Defends Social Media Ban as Report Reveals Teenage Workarounds
Published August 1, 2026
The Australian government is standing by its three-month-old ban on social media for users under 16, following a report that found the majority of teenagers are still accessing the platforms despite the prohibition.
A study released by the eSafety Commissioner indicates that over 80% of Australian teenagers continue to use social media, primarily due to ineffective age verification measures implemented by technology companies. The report shows that most children aged 10 to 15 used social media with similar frequency in March as they did before the ban took effect on December 10, 2025. Parental awareness of their children’s social media habits has reportedly decreased during this period.
The eSafety report states, “Most under-16s who had social media accounts before the ban were able to either retain those accounts or create new ones, with the failure to implement effective age assurance measures cited as the primary reason.”
The ban was introduced to address concerns regarding the impact of social media on the mental and physical health of children and adolescents. Its implementation is being closely observed by other countries considering similar measures.
Before the ban, nearly 86% of surveyed children reported using at least one age-restricted social media platform. Three months into the ban, this figure has only slightly declined to over 81%. The report also found minimal changes in teenagers’ engagement in “sports and physical activity, arts and music, spending time with friends and family, and attendance at community events.”
Approximately 58% of teenagers reported using social media daily, a decrease from around 60% before the ban. About half of the children who retained their accounts attributed their continued access to platforms not enforcing age checks. Some stated their accounts indicated they were aged 16 or older, while others claimed age-checking systems erroneously classified them as older.
In response to the report’s findings, Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury, defended the ban during a weekend interview. He asserted that the legislation has reshaped national discussions surrounding social media usage among young people.
“This ban has been an important game changer in the conversation among parents,” Leigh said. “We’ve had millions of accounts shut down. We never expected that this would achieve 100 percent compliance. Just as we don’t see full compliance with minimum drinking age laws, it is still vital to have such laws in place.”
The government’s continued defense of the ban highlights its commitment to addressing the challenges posed by social media usage among minors.
