A recent study conducted by the University of Newcastle has raised questions about the effectiveness of social media restrictions in Australia, specifically the ban on usage for individuals under 16. This research, published in the British Medical Journal, assessed how teens aged 12 to 17 adapted to the new regulations both before and three months after their implementation. The focus was on popular platforms such as TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.
Findings revealed that over 85 percent of participants under 16 continued to use these social media platforms, even though approximately two-thirds reported encountering age verification measures. Between 54 and 68 percent of these teens maintained their accounts despite the new law. The predominant method of age verification, which involved self-reporting one’s age, has drawn criticism for its ineffectiveness. Among the surveyed adolescents, 24 to 39 percent faced self-declared age checks, while 13 to 27 percent were able to bypass restrictions by submitting a selfie.
Furthermore, many teens discovered alternative ways to circumvent these limitations. About 15 to 19 percent of respondents admitted to creating fake accounts for access, and 9 to 29 percent used someone else’s account. Additionally, around 11 percent utilized private browsing options to evade the new guidelines; notably, few reported using a VPN.
The overall trend indicated that social media usage remained consistent among 12 to 13-year-olds post-implementation, while it saw a decline among 14 to 15-year-olds and an increase among those over 16.
While acknowledging that the sample size was limited and largely based on self-reporting, the researchers emphasized that these early findings warrant further observation. An editorial accompanying the study highlighted the preliminary signals of a policy not fully in effect. Dr. Amrit Kaur Purba, an assistant professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, noted, “What these figures collectively describe is a partially implemented policy, one in which the mechanism intended to restrict access was not reliably activated.”
Dr. Purba stressed the importance of effective enforcement when it comes to such regulations: “Australia’s experience underscores that enacting a law is not synonymous with enforcing it. When age verification depends on self-declaration, adolescents easily continue accessing restricted platforms. Countries like the UK, which are considering similar measures, must establish robust age verification systems from the outset to prevent widespread circumvention.” As governments across various regions contemplate analogous strategies, Australia’s experience highlights that how a law is put into practice can be just as essential as the legislation itself.
