Story perspectives

Australia’s Under-16 Ban Cuts Accounts Slightly, 80% Still Online

8/1/2026

Left

eSafety Commissioner Reports

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner released a three-month report on the under-16 social-media ban that began on 10 December 2025.
The commissioner said parents’ awareness fell, with the share of those unaware of their child’s use rising by ten percent.
More than 80 percent of surveyed children kept using Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat after three months.
Account ownership among 10- to 15-year-olds dropped from roughly 52 percent to 42 percent, showing limited reduction.

Right

Commissioner Flags Ban

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner released a three-month report on the under-16 social-media ban that began on 10 December 2025.
Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh said the ban reshaped the national debate and called it a game-changer for parents.
The report found eight in ten teenagers kept using social media, highlighting enforcement challenges.
The study showed 10-15-year-olds used social media as frequently in March as before the ban.

Center

Commissioner Reports Ban

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner released a three-month report on the under-16 social-media ban that began on 10 December 2025, the first national restriction.
Investigations into Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube for non-compliance were launched, prompting the government to double the maximum fine to A$99 million.
Under-16 account ownership on age-restricted platforms fell from 52.4 % to 42.1 % within three months.
81.5 % of 10-15-year-olds still used a restricted platform in March, a 4.4 % decline.

Blindspot

The government announced it will double the maximum fine for violations of the under-16 social-media ban to A$99 million, according to the Center-leaning sources.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

The EU’s GDPR, adopted in April 2016 and applied from 25 May 2018, triggered large fines such as France’s €50 million penalty on Google in 2019 and a €1.2 billion sanction on Meta in 2025. Inspired by that regime, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner imposed a nationwide under-16 social-media ban on 10 December 2025 and raised the maximum fine to A$99 million.

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eSafety Commissioner Reports

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner released a three-month report on the under-16 social-media ban that began on 10 December 2025.
The commissioner said parents’ awareness fell, with the share of those unaware of their child’s use rising by ten percent.
More than 80 percent of surveyed children kept using Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat after three months.
Account ownership among 10- to 15-year-olds dropped from roughly 52 percent to 42 percent, showing limited reduction.

1 / 5