More than 80% of kids still using social media despite ban, new eSafety report finds

Australia's social media ban for children under 16, touted as world-leading policy, faces a stark implementation problem. More than 80% of young people continue using social media platforms despite the legal restriction, according to a new eSafety report.

The Australian Government introduced the ban with enforcement mechanisms and heavy penalties for platforms that fail to comply. The law aimed to protect children from documented harms including addiction, cyberbullying, and mental health deterioration. Yet uptake data reveals the policy has not achieved its primary goal of reducing youth social media use.

The eSafety Commission's findings expose the gap between legislative intent and real-world behavior. Young Australians continue accessing TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and other platforms through various workarounds. These include using parents' devices, creating accounts with false ages, using VPNs, or accessing apps through web browsers rather than app stores where age verification may occur.

The report suggests several barriers to enforcement. Tech platforms struggle to implement robust age verification without compromising privacy. Young people remain motivated to access social media for social connection and peer communication, regardless of legal status. Parental enforcement proves inconsistent, with some guardians choosing not to restrict access despite the ban.

This outcome mirrors implementation challenges seen in other countries attempting digital restrictions. The United Kingdom considered similar measures but ultimately pursued a different regulatory path focused on platform accountability rather than outright bans.

Australia's experience raises questions about whether legislation alone can address youth social media use. Experts increasingly point to a multi-faceted approach: digital literacy education, platform design reforms that reduce addictive features, parental support programs, and mental health resources as more effective than prohibition.

The eSafety Commission's report does not indicate whether the government plans to strengthen enforcement, adjust the policy, or pursue complementary strategies to protect young Australians from social media harms.