New research suggests the majority of Australian teenagers continue accessing social media despite the country’s under-16 restrictions, highlighting enforcement challenges.
SYDNEY, Australia — WEB DESK: Most Australian teenagers continue to use social media despite the country’s under-16 restrictions, according to new survey findings that raise fresh concerns about the effectiveness of the government’s online safety measures.
The survey found that a large majority of teenagers remain active on major social media platforms months after Australia introduced measures designed to prevent children under the age of 16 from creating or maintaining social media accounts.
Majority of Teenagers Remain Online
The findings suggest that many young users continue accessing platforms either through existing accounts or by using methods that bypass age restrictions, indicating that enforcement remains a significant challenge.
Experts say the results underline the difficulty of implementing age-verification systems without affecting user privacy or restricting legitimate access.
Government Pushes for Stronger Online Safety
Australia has introduced some of the world’s strictest proposals aimed at protecting children online, requiring social media companies to take greater responsibility for preventing underage users from accessing their services.
The legislation places increasing pressure on technology companies to develop reliable age-verification tools while balancing privacy, cybersecurity and user rights.
Tech Companies Face Compliance Pressure
Major social media platforms have been working on new identity and age-checking systems, but industry groups have warned that implementing accurate verification technology remains technically complex.
Digital rights advocates have also expressed concerns that mandatory identity verification could increase privacy risks if sensitive personal information is collected.
Debate Over Effectiveness Continues
Child safety organisations have welcomed stronger protections for young users but acknowledge that technological solutions alone may not prevent children from accessing online platforms.
Policy experts say education, parental involvement and platform accountability will all be needed to improve online safety for minors.
The latest survey is likely to intensify debate over whether Australia’s under-16 social media restrictions can achieve their intended objectives or require additional enforcement measures.
