Australia introduced a nationwide restriction preventing children under the age of 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms, following legislation that came into force in December 2025. The law requires platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and X, to block underage users from creating or maintaining accounts, with companies facing financial penalties if they fail to comply.
Responsibility for enforcement is placed on technology companies, which are required to implement age verification systems and remove accounts that do not meet the minimum age requirement. Early data released by Australia’s eSafety regulator indicated that approximately 4.7 million accounts linked to under-16 users were deactivated, removed, or restricted shortly after the law took effect.
Despite these enforcement actions, early research indicates that access to restricted platforms remains widespread among younger users. A study conducted by the Molly Rose Foundation and YouthInsight, based on polling of 1,050 children aged 12 to 15, found that 61% of those who had accounts before the ban still had access to at least one platform.
Platform-level findings in the study show that 53% of previous users of TikTok and YouTube, and 52% of Instagram users, continued to access accounts after the restrictions were introduced.
The study also reports that enforcement by platforms has been inconsistent. Between 60% and 64% of children who continued using restricted services said no action had been taken to remove or deactivate their existing accounts.
Findings indicate that in many cases, continued access did not require deliberate circumvention. The research states that platforms often failed to identify underage accounts, allowing users to remain active without needing to create new profiles or bypass controls.
Where workarounds were used, they included entering incorrect ages, using virtual private networks, or accessing accounts through other individuals, according to the study and related reporting.
Survey responses on outcomes show mixed results. Among children who had used social media prior to the ban, 51% said the restrictions made no difference to their online safety, while 14% reported feeling less safe.
The study also found that 70% of children who continued to use restricted platforms said it was easy to bypass the measures.
Authorities in Australia have begun reviewing compliance by major platforms, including the effectiveness of age verification systems and account removal processes. Longer-term assessments are underway to evaluate how the restrictions affect behaviour, safety outcomes, and platform usage over time.