Australia is preparing to strengthen enforcement of its landmark social media ban for children under 16 after new research found that most teenagers continue to access restricted platforms despite the law being in force for six months.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government will “stress-test” the legislation to ensure it can withstand legal challenges and effectively prevent underage users from creating accounts on major platforms such as Instagram and YouTube. He also signaled that Australia’s eSafety Commissioner could receive additional powers to enforce the rules.
The renewed push follows the publication of a study in the British Medical Journal, which found that 85% of Australian children aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect. Researchers surveyed 408 adolescents and concluded there was little evidence that the legislation had significantly reduced social media use among teenagers.
According to the study, many young users simply bypassed age verification measures by entering false birth dates, using existing accounts, borrowing accounts from older users, or relying on other workarounds. Researchers said current age assurance systems have struggled to prevent determined teenagers from accessing restricted platforms.
The findings echo discussions across online communities, including Reddit, where users have shared methods for circumventing the restrictions, highlighting the practical challenges of enforcing age-based access controls.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is already investigating several major technology companies over their compliance with the law. Platforms that fail to take “reasonable steps” to keep children off their services face substantial financial penalties, while the government is considering giving regulators broader investigative powers to obtain internal compliance documents and evidence from both platforms and age verification providers.
The legislation, which took effect in December 2025, made Australia the first country to prohibit users under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms. Since then, governments around the world have closely watched the policy as they consider introducing similar restrictions to address concerns about children’s online safety and mental health.
Despite criticism over its effectiveness, Albanese said the government remains committed to the policy and wants to ensure regulators have the authority needed to enforce it. Officials argue that stronger oversight, rather than weaker rules, is necessary if the world’s first nationwide social media ban for minors is to achieve its intended goals.