Eight in 10 Australian young people reported still accessing social media in the months after a ban for under-16s took effect, according to research published in The BMJ. The findings from a small study of the world-first ban suggested insufficient evidence of any substantive early effects, the University of Newcastle, Australia, study said.
Study Details and Initial Impact
The study surveyed 408 children aged 12 to 17 just before restrictions were introduced in December and again three months later. Some 85% of participants aged under 16 reported still using social media platforms covered by the ban, mainly under their own accounts. Of these, two thirds encountered some form of age verification, most commonly self-declared age or uploading a picture. Almost a fifth used a fake account to get around restrictions, while around 10% used a private browser.
The paper stated: "The findings suggest that the period immediately after introduction of the Act was characterised by limited implementation, incomplete compliance, and substantial circumvention of social media restrictions." Researchers concluded there was "insufficient evidence to conclude that exposure to the Act had any early substantial effects on social media use among adolescents aged under 16 years."
UK Plans and Expert Reactions
The UK is set to have a ban on certain social media for under-16s by spring, announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this month. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall acknowledged the ban will not be a "complete silver bullet" but said it provides clarity for parents and children and resets expectations. She insisted the UK's use of "highly effective age-verification measures" would make the ban stronger than Australia's system.
Professor Dennis Ougrin, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Queen Mary University of London, said the findings "should be interpreted cautiously" given the small sample size and reliance on self-reporting. He noted it was "too early to conclude that the policy has failed" but said the study provides "an important early reality check for policymakers."
Broader Context and Campaigner Views
Polling commissioned by the Molly Rose Foundation, set up in memory of 14-year-old Molly Russell who took her own life after viewing harmful content, found around six in 10 12- to 15-year-olds who previously had accounts on restricted platforms continued to have access. Seven in 10 said it was "easy" to get around the ban. The foundation argued a ban might fail to address "fundamental product safety issues" like harmful content pushed through algorithms.
However, many campaigners, including bereaved parents, have welcomed the ban as a "watershed moment for child protection." Some big tech firms opposed it, warning a blanket ban could drive young people into unregulated online spaces.
NSPCC Call for Safety by Design
The NSPCC said the study shows "a ban alone will not keep all children safe from harm online" and called for a "safety by design approach on social media and wider online spaces." Chief executive Chris Sherwood stated: "Any child who slips past restrictions or accesses unrestricted sites must land in online environments that are safe, healthy and don't leave them at risk of harm."
The proposed UK ban is expected to cover platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X, but not messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal.
