Research Shows Teens Bypassing Australia’s Social Media Ban
The Molly Rose Foundation (MRF), an organization based in the UK focused on online safety for children, released a study on Monday revealing that approximately 60% of Australian teenagers are managing to bypass the country’s significant ban on social media accounts for those under 16.
In its report, titled “Australia’s social media ban – is it working?”, MRF concluded that while the ban impacted young Australians’ online habits, it hasn’t been entirely effective.
According to the report, “There are serious questions about the effectiveness of Australia’s social media bans. About 61% of 12- to 15-year-olds who had an account on restricted platforms still access one or more active accounts.” The study found that over half of the young individuals aged 12 to 15 still had access to popular, yet risky, platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
A survey conducted with Australia’s largest online youth panel, YouthInsight, showed that 70% of participating children found it “easy” to get around the social media restrictions. Interestingly, 51% of the respondents felt the ban wouldn’t affect their online safety, while only 14% claimed it would make them feel safer.
MRF speculated that this might be influenced by various factors, such as moving to smaller platforms that may not be well-managed or just a general sense that online companies have shifted away from prioritizing safety.
Though the ban seems to have reduced overall online time for children—a point that child safety advocates may view positively—MRF criticized social media companies for not making strong efforts to identify and shut down accounts made by users younger than 16. This criticism comes amid a surge in account deactivations during the early days of the ban.
About 5% of the children who skirted the ban reported using a virtual private network (VPN), which can effectively obscure identities and bypass digital restrictions. This highlights ongoing concerns about how to regulate such tools, which many governments attempt to censor.
MRF also noted that an early attempt to restrict children from online gaming in South Korea resulted in initially decreased online engagement; however, the improvements fizzled out over time, and ultimately, the government lifted the ban.
In its report, MRF challenged claims from the Australian government that the social media ban had been “initially very successful.” The findings might have broader implications for other countries weighing similar actions, including the UK.
The authors of the report cautioned, “This data suggests that, at least in the medium term, Australian-style bans are unlikely to deliver the improved safety that parents and children expect. At worst, these measures risk providing parents with a false sense of security, as children can still use social media while tech companies might neglect their responsibilities regarding safety.”
The Molly Rose Foundation became known after a tragic incident involving a London teenager who took her own life due to the detrimental effects of social media. This has raised questions about how harmful content is amplified by social networks.
Despite the weight of the report, MRF remains skeptical about sweeping bans on teen social media usage, especially as many governments around the world consider similar measures.
Key points of skepticism include doubts about the effectiveness of bans that technically savvy youth can easily bypass, along with concerns that social media companies could shirk their responsibilities if they are simply directed to block underage access.
According to MRF’s chief executive, Andy Burrows, “Parents and children deserve better than a flawed ban that provides a sense of security that is easily broken.” He mentioned that while supporters think the ban will be an immediate solution, initial data suggests it might just relieve tech companies of their accountability.
In a separate comparison, a March YouGov survey indicated that 61% of Australian parents noticed “positive behavioral changes” in their teens since the ban. These included more in-person interactions and improved family relationships. However, YouGov also reported that many parents perceived several negative effects, such as an increase in the digital divide and a move to less regulated platforms.
