Survey Shows Majority of Australian Teens Access Social Media Despite Under-16 Ban

A survey conducted by the Molly Rose Foundation revealed that approximately two-thirds of Australian children aged 12 to 15 who used social media prior to a ban for under-16s continue to access one or more accounts. The ban took effect in December 2025.

The poll of 1,050 children indicated that about 50% could still access TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, with the figure rising to nearly two-thirds when including Facebook and Snapchat. About 70% of those still using the restricted platforms described circumventing the ban as easy.

Over half reported that the ban had no effect on their online safety.

The Molly Rose Foundation stated that the findings suggest social media platforms have not adequately detected or removed accounts held by under-16s. A report from Australia's e-safety commissioner last month identified major gaps in how platforms such as Meta, YouTube, and TikTok implement the ban.

The report noted that these platforms allow children under 16 to make repeated attempts at age verification to achieve a 16-or-older outcome.

The foundation emphasized the importance of addressing addictive and dangerous design features in social media apps through stronger regulations targeting business models that prioritize profit over safety. The UK government is currently consulting stakeholders on children's social media safety, including potential crackdowns on such design features.

>"Keir Starmer has the chance to make the UK a world leader in online safety by following the evidence with robust new laws that give parents what they’re rightly demanding," said Ian Russell, chair of Molly Rose Foundation. The foundation's head, Andy Burrows, stated that the survey results question the effectiveness of Australia's ban.

The Independent has contacted TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram for comment on the survey findings.