Australia is considering stronger enforcement measures for its landmark social media ban on children after a new study found the law has had little impact on teenage online activity. The government now plans to strengthen the legislation and ensure it can withstand legal challenges while improving its overall effectiveness.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would stress-test the law, which prohibits platforms such as Instagram and YouTube from allowing users under the age of 16 to create accounts. He added that authorities also want to ensure the country’s eSafety Commission has sufficient powers to monitor compliance and enforce the legislation effectively.
The law, which came into effect six months ago, has attracted global attention as countries seek ways to reduce the harmful effects of social media on young people. Meanwhile, Australian authorities are preparing legal action against several digital platforms, which could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars if they are found to have repeatedly failed to enforce the restrictions.
Despite early reports that millions of accounts had been removed, recent research suggests the ban has not significantly reduced social media use among teenagers. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that 85 percent of Australians aged between 12 and 15 continued using social media three months after the law took effect.
The research also found that nearly two-thirds of underage users bypassed the restrictions by falsely declaring they were over 16 or using selfie-based age verification systems accepted by platforms. Researchers concluded that while the legislation aimed to reduce online risks for adolescents, it had not yet produced a meaningful decline in teenage social media use.