Australia Defends Social Media Ban Despite High Non-Compliance

The Government of Australia defended its social media ban for children under 16 on August 1, 2026, despite data showing the policy has failed to stop most teenagers from using the platforms. A study by the eSafety regulator found that children aged 10 to 15 used social media as frequently in March 2026 as they did before the December 10, 2025, commencement. More than 80 percent of teenagers continued using these platforms, largely because companies failed to implement effective age assurance measures.

Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh argued that the ban has shifted how families discuss social media and led to the closure of millions of accounts, including 4.7 million revoked in January 2026. To increase compliance, the government plans to double maximum fines for technology companies, which currently face penalties up to $33 million. Communications Minister Anika Wells framed the effort as a challenge against powerful global corporations.

These developments coincide with a study in Nature Human Behaviour showing that children who start using social media between ages 11 and 12 perform worse in mathematics and reading by age 16. While researchers like Marco Gui support age limits as an emergency policy, others publishing in the British Medical Journal warn that such bans may drive youth toward private, less regulated online spaces that are harder for parents to monitor.