Since Australia introduced a social media ban for users under 16 in December 2025, the effectiveness of the measure has been questioned. A recent evaluation report by the Australian internet oversight body, eSafety, suggests that the limited success of the age restriction is largely due to platform operators failing to enforce the rules effectively. While the percentage of minors with their own social media accounts decreased slightly from 52.4% to 42.1%, overall usage among underage users remained high at 81.5%. The study, based on a longitudinal survey of over 4,000 children and families, indicates that many youths continue using platforms through shared family accounts, parental devices, or alternative services like BeReal and Kick. eSafety notes that popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube have shown significant non-compliance, prompting legal action. The Australian government has increased penalties for non-compliant platforms.
Bias read (Center): The article presents findings from an independent evaluation report and discusses the regulatory actions taken by the Australian government against social media platforms. It does not overtly favor either side but highlights the challenges faced by regulators in enforcing the law. The tone remains客观





