Australia's Social Media Ban for Minors: Initial Assessment

• The social media ban for under-16s implemented in Australia in December 2025 has shown little evidence of success in its initial impact assessment.
• Most minors continue to access platforms, and there is no observable improvement in the mental health or well-being of the target demographic.
• Lacking platform enforcement and widespread user workarounds are undermining the effectiveness of the policy.

Key Findings

• Continued Usage: Before the ban, roughly 5 out of 10 youths (aged 10-15) held accounts on restricted platforms; after the ban, that figure remains at approximately 4 out of 10. Monthly usage fell only slightly, from 85.9% to 81.5%.
• Platform Enforcement: Half of the surveyed youths reported never being prompted by a platform to verify their age. Over a third intentionally entered false ages to bypass restrictions.
• Substitution and Evasion: Users are migrating to messengers and video games, or bypassing controls via VPNs (7.4%), parental assistance (10.9%), or using fake credentials (12%).

Government Stance

• The Australian government and the eSafety Commissioner avoid labeling the policy a failure, characterizing the findings as a "snapshot" of early signals rather than definitive outcomes.
• The core assumptions behind the ban—effective platform enforcement, shifting user attitudes, and a transition to healthy offline activities—have not yet materialized in the data.