AUSTRALIA’S government has defended its landmark ban on social media access for children under 16, despite fresh data revealing the challenges of enforcing restrictions in a digital environment deeply embedded in young people’s daily lives.
The defence came after the country’s internet regulator found that more than eight in 10 Australian teenagers were still using social media three months after the restrictions came into effect, raising questions over the effectiveness of the world-first policy.
Australia introduced the ban in December amid concerns over the impact of social media on children’s mental and physical wellbeing. The measure, which is being closely monitored by governments overseas, has faced criticism from major social media companies, many of which are based in the United States.
Responding to the regulator’s findings, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh said the policy had already transformed the national conversation around children’s online safety.
The ban had been "an important game changer in the conversation among parents," Leigh said in televised remarks, according to an official transcript.
"We've had millions of accounts shut down," Reuters quoted him saying.
"We never expected that this would have 100% compliance. We don't get 100% compliance out of minimum drinking age laws, but it's still appropriate that we have that law on the books."
However, the latest study by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner highlighted the difficulties faced by authorities in enforcing the restrictions.
The study found that children aged between 10 and 15 were using social media at similar rates in March compared with before the ban was introduced on December 10, while parental awareness of their children’s online activities had declined.
The findings broadly echoed earlier data released by eSafety in March, months before the centre-left Labor government announced plans to strengthen enforcement measures, including doubling the maximum penalties that can be imposed on technology companies failing to comply with the ban.
The Australian government has maintained that the policy is not designed to eliminate all social media use among young people immediately, but to establish stronger safeguards and encourage platforms to take greater responsibility for protecting children online. - August 1, 2026
