A major new survey reveals that most children in Australia continue to use restricted social media platforms despite a legal ban for under-16s, casting doubt on the measure's effectiveness. The survey, conducted by the Molly Rose Foundation, found that approximately two-thirds of Australian 12 to 15-year-olds who used social media before the ban took effect in December still have access to one or more accounts.
Survey Findings
Of the 1,050 children polled, roughly 50 per cent could still access their accounts on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. When including Facebook and Snapchat, the figure rose to nearly two-thirds. About 70 per cent of those still using restricted sites said it was 'easy' to circumvent the ban, while over half reported that the ban made no difference to their online safety.
Platform Failures
The Molly Rose Foundation stated that social media platforms had failed to detect or remove accounts for under-16s. The foundation warned that a similar move planned in the UK would be a 'high stakes gamble' at this stage. Andy Burrows, the foundation's head, said: 'These results raise major questions about the effectiveness of Australia's social media ban and show it would be a high stakes gamble for the UK to follow suit now.'
Regulatory Gaps
In a report last month, Australia's e-safety commissioner warned platforms like Meta, YouTube, and TikTok of 'major gaps' in implementing the ban, noting that children could repeatedly attempt age verification to obtain a 16+ outcome. The Molly Rose Foundation emphasized the need for stronger regulation targeting business models that prioritize profit over safety, rather than limited bans.
UK Context
The UK government is consulting on children's social media safety, considering crackdowns on addictive and dangerous design features. Ian Russell, chair of the Molly Rose Foundation, said: 'Keir Starmer has the chance to make the UK a world leader in online safety by following the evidence with robust new laws that give parents what they're rightly demanding.' He added: 'The cost is too high to get this wrong by rushing into an Australia-style ban that offers the perception of security but is letting children down in practice.' The Independent has approached TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram for comment.
