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Australia considers tougher enforcement of social media ban for teens

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Labor eyes tougher laws to enforce social media ban for children

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We need to be courageous: Albanese plans to go harder on teen social media ban

Assessing early effects of Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age Act on adolescents’ social media use: observational study

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Anthony Albanese says laws to prompt tech giant action against extremism a priority

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Blocking social media to the kids will save us all

Australia’s social media ban has not yet disrupted the status quo

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Australia’s teen social media ban is a flop. But there’s no joy in ‘I told you so’ | Samantha Floreani

‘Very blunt approach’: eSafety Commissioner questions social media ban

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Digital Duty Care Australia Developing Duty Care Framework Online Services Used Australians

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Timothy Koskie

"They took the easy option, and it will fail."

“New accounts are being created and the age-verification tools that the government assured Australians would be effective, have proven laughably easy to bypass with some makeup and good lighting.”

“Tech-savvy teens simply use VPNs, fake birth photos for face scans, or migrate to less regulated platforms like Lemon8, or to platforms not part of the ban like video games. Enforcement is proving to be difficult in the days leading up to the ban.”

"Some verification methods are often inaccurate while others are easily circumvented.”

"Technological workarounds – such as VPNs and false age declarations – may undermine the effectiveness of the ban."

"This law will also push many users toward platforms that are more personal and private, like Telegram channels, WhatsApp Communities, and Signal Groups, which are not currently banned because they are important tools for encrypted and direct communication."

David Inserra

“Ultimately, reducing online harm would be a great outcome; however, we know from evidence that ‘banning’ anything from young people won’t work on its own.”

Louise La Sala

“There’s a fair amount of teething problems around it. Many young people have been posting on TikTok that they successfully evaded the age limitations and that’s to be expected.”

"I think it will help a lot of parents because it's not them saying no, it's an actual law."

Cassie Xintavelonis

“We don’t expect safety laws to eliminate every single breach. If we did, speed limits would have failed because people speed, drinking limits would have failed because, believe it or not, some kids do get access to alcohol.”

“The fact that teenagers occasionally find a way to have a drink doesn’t diminish the value of having a clear national standard.”

"Just as the banning of phones in school classrooms by many state governments hasn't on day one led to perfect compliance, now it's just accepted that there are improved educational outcomes, improved behaviour, improved social outcomes as a result."

"Australia's social media ban is already driving change, and is proof that the threat of regulation works, even before the law takes effect. Waiting for perfect policy risks paralysis when real progress is already within reach.”

Will Australia's Under 16 Social Media Ban be Effective?

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the government is working to strengthen the country's <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/australia-enforces-social-media-ban-for-children-under-">social media ban for under-16s</a>, following comments by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant earlier this month.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the government is working to strengthen the country's social media ban for under-16s, following comments by eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant earlier this month.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Grant described the ban as a "very blunt force approach," its legislation as "very thin scaffolding" and alleged she lacked any "potent powers," at a time when <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2026/australia-probes-social-media-giants-over-teen-ban">the commission is investigating Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube for non-compliance</a>.

Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Grant described the ban as a "very blunt force approach," its legislation as "very thin scaffolding" and alleged she lacked any "potent powers," at a time when the commission is investigating Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube for non-compliance.

Acknowledging her concerns, Albanese told Parliament that strengthening the social media ban was a government "priority" to ensure that "Australians are in charge" of social media rather than the "unaccountable" companies that operate it.

Acknowledging her concerns, Albanese told Parliament that strengthening the social media ban was a government "priority" to ensure that "Australians are in charge" of social media rather than the "unaccountable" companies that operate it.

The prime minister also framed the proposed Digital Duty of Care — which the government claims will prevent "serious online harms" — as the next step beyond the existing ban, stating, "we are going to need to do more, and that's what the digital duty of care is about."

The prime minister also framed the proposed Digital Duty of Care — which the government claims will prevent "serious online harms" — as the next step beyond the existing ban, stating, "we are going to need to do more, and that's what the digital duty of care is about."

Justifying the additional legislation, Albanese pointed to the alleged effects of algorithms, which he attributed to driving individuals to "more and more extreme [political] positions," as well as a spike in hospital presentations and documented sexual violence linked to online content.

Justifying the additional legislation, Albanese pointed to the alleged effects of algorithms, which he attributed to driving individuals to "more and more extreme [political] positions," as well as a spike in hospital presentations and documented sexual violence linked to online content.

The remarks come as a study by Australia's University of Newcastle revealed that more than 85% of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect, with two-thirds of underage users bypassing restrictions by self-declaring an age over 16.

The remarks come as a study by Australia's University of Newcastle revealed that more than 85% of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect, with two-thirds of underage users bypassing restrictions by self-declaring an age over 16.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the government is working to further strengthen the country's under-16 social media ban, describing it as a priority and saying the eSafety Commission needs greater powers to enforce the law.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the government is working to further strengthen the country's under-16 social media ban, describing it as a priority and saying the eSafety Commission needs greater powers to enforce the law.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant described the ban's legislation as "very thin scaffolding" and said she did not have "potent powers," while the commission is investigating Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube for potential non-compliance.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant described the ban's legislation as "very thin scaffolding" and said she did not have "potent powers," while the commission is investigating Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube for potential non-compliance.

A study published in the British Medical Journal found more than 85% of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect, with two-thirds of underage users bypassing restrictions by self-declaring an age over 16.

A study published in the British Medical Journal found more than 85% of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect, with two-thirds of underage users bypassing restrictions by self-declaring an age over 16.

Albanese told parliament that algorithms push users toward "more and more extreme positions" and cited rising hospital presentations linked to online content, framing a proposed digital duty of care as a key next step beyond the existing social media ban.

Albanese told parliament that algorithms push users toward "more and more extreme positions" and cited rising hospital presentations linked to online content, framing a proposed digital duty of care as a key next step beyond the existing social media ban.

Reddit has launched a High Court challenge against the ban, which remains in preliminary hearings. Meanwhile, platforms face maximum fines of A$49.5 million if found to have systemically failed to uphold the restrictions, though no fines have been issued.

Reddit has launched a High Court challenge against the ban, which remains in preliminary hearings. Meanwhile, platforms face maximum fines of A$49.5 million if found to have systemically failed to uphold the restrictions, though no fines have been issued.

Three AI-powered "nudify" services operating in Australia withdrew from the country following enforcement action by the eSafety Commissioner. Albanese said Australia's ban had been followed by at least 16 other countries, including the United Kingdom.

Three AI-powered "nudify" services operating in Australia withdrew from the country following enforcement action by the eSafety Commissioner. Albanese said Australia's ban had been followed by at least 16 other countries, including the United Kingdom.

Australia's social media ban is exactly the kind of bold, necessary action that protects kids from real harm — algorithms pushing young people toward extremism, nudify apps, and violent content normalizing abuse. Unaccountable tech giants profit while children suffer, and government has a duty to push back hard. A digital duty of care that extends these protections even further is the logical next step.

Australia's social media ban is exactly the kind of bold, necessary action that protects kids from real harm — algorithms pushing young people toward extremism, nudify apps, and violent content normalizing abuse. Unaccountable tech giants profit while children suffer, and government has a duty to push back hard. A digital duty of care that extends these protections even further is the logical next step.

Australia's teen social media ban has flopped — around seven in 10 kids remain on major platforms with no meaningful drop in cyberbullying or image-based abuse. Age-gating creates dangerous privacy vulnerabilities and lets tech companies off the hook for their extractive, algorithm-driven business models. Real harm reduction means regulating big tech's design and monetization practices, not chasing a ban that experts warned would fail.

Australia's teen social media ban has flopped — around seven in 10 kids remain on major platforms with no meaningful drop in cyberbullying or image-based abuse. Age-gating creates dangerous privacy vulnerabilities and lets tech companies off the hook for their extractive, algorithm-driven business models. Real harm reduction means regulating big tech's design and monetization practices, not chasing a ban that experts warned would fail.

The Anxious Generation

Australia Moves to Toughen Teen Social Media Ban

Australia

Media

Australia's social media ban was a bold and necessary plan to protect children from online harms. However, more needs to be done to stop dangerous algorithms and platforms, along with their damaging consequences, in their tracks. For these reasons, the Australian government is committed to both strengthening the existing ban while extending protections even further under a new digital duty of care.

Australia's social media ban was a bold and necessary plan to protect children from online harms. However, more needs to be done to stop dangerous algorithms and platforms, along with their damaging consequences, in their tracks. For these reasons, the Australian government is committed to both strengthening the existing ban while extending protections even further under a new digital duty of care.

Despite the government's best intentions, it is irrefutable that the social media ban has been a flop, with the vast majority of under-16s remaining on major platforms. If anything, age-gating policies have only exacerbated the issue, as they have let tech companies off the hook for their extractive, algorithm-driven business models, thereby preventing reforms that would build a genuinely safer digital space.

Despite the government's best intentions, it is irrefutable that the social media ban has been a flop, with the vast majority of under-16s remaining on major platforms. If anything, age-gating policies have only exacerbated the issue, as they have let tech companies off the hook for their extractive, algorithm-driven business models, thereby preventing reforms that would build a genuinely safer digital space.

Australia Moves to Toughen Teen Social Media Ban

Australia Moves to Toughen Teen Social Media Ban

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