Australia's social media ban for under-16s reduced usage among minors to 81.5% in March 2026, down from 85.9% before the ban took effect in December 2025. The three-month decline represents a 4.4 percentage point drop.
Australia's online safety regulator reported that the controversial under-16 social media ban produced measurable but limited initial results in its first quarter of enforcement.
The data shows approximately 1 in 5 teens under 16 remained on social media platforms despite the ban. Industry experts attributed the marginal reduction to workarounds including age verification gaps and account sharing among minors.
The ban, implemented in December 2025, faced criticism from tech companies and civil liberties groups before launch. Supporters argued it would protect children from algorithmic harms and mental health risks.
Australia's regulator indicated it would monitor compliance metrics over a longer timeframe, noting that behavioral shifts typically take months to fully materialize. The government has not yet disclosed enforcement action details or penalties applied during the initial rollout period.
Other nations including the UK and Canada are monitoring Australia's implementation for policy guidance on age-restricted social media access.
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