Australia’s teen social media ban struggles as many still use TikTok, Snapchat

Australia imposed the landmark social media ban for children under 16 years of age in December 2025. Australia became the first country to impose such restrictions. Popular social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook were blocked for the underage users.

In case a teen is found using any of the blocked social media platforms, then the person will face heavy fines. The social media ban imposed by the Australian government is designed to protect the young users from online harassment, exploitation and increasing screen time. Now a Reuters report has revealed that despite the social media ban imposed by the government around 20% of Australian teens aged between 13-15 are still active on TikTok and Snapchat.

However, the overall usage has declined when compared to the pre-ban levels. But the persistence of underage accounts highlights gaps in enforcement and age-verification systems.

Australian teenagers bypassing the social media ban

According to the Reuters report, many teenagers in Australia are bypassing the ban by falsifying their age during sign-up, creating secondary accounts, or accessing platform via shared devices and VPNs. Some on the young users also revealed that the ban imposed has little impact on their daily routines as many of them are still using the apps.

What Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said

Julie Inman Grant eSaftey commissioner of Australia has stated that millions of underage accounts have been removed after the social media ban was imposed. However, the continued presence of teens on these platforms suggests that companies are struggling to fully comply. The government has emphasised that stronger age-gating technology will be necessary to make the ban effective.

After social media ban for kids, Australia’s age-restrictions kick off

Australia’s sweeping set of age-restriction laws have kicked in as the country becomes one of the strictest in the world when it comes to protecting minors online.

According to a report by news agency Reuters, Australians have been increase the rate of downloading virtual private networks (VPNs) even as one of the world's largest adult content distributors said it was blocking users ‌from its platforms.After December 10 nationwide ban on teenagers using social media, a separate law that went into effect on Monday (March 9) which requires AI-powered chatbot services to block minors from accessing content including pornography, extreme violence, and material related to self-harm or eating disorders – or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (roughly $34.5 million).