Australian social media ban for minors shows limited effectiveness

Data published on August 26, 2026, indicates that the Australian ban on social media for children under 16 has struggled to maintain its initial effectiveness. Legislation enforced on December 10, 2025, initially reduced social media usage among minors, but current statistics from the parental control app Qustodio show that usage rates have rebounded, in some instances exceeding levels recorded before the law was implemented.

For children aged 10 to 12, TikTok usage in July 2026 reached 11.36%, surpassing the 10.73% rate recorded in November 2025. Among the 13 to 15 age group, 25.96% remain active on the platform, representing only a 1% decline from pre-ban figures. Reports suggest that children are successfully bypassing restrictions to access platforms, with emerging upward trends also observed on Snapchat and Instagram.