Over 20% of Australian Teens Continue Using TikTok and Snapchat Despite Age Restrictions

Two months after Australia enforced a social media ban for users under 16, data from parental control software Qustodio shows that more than one-fifth of 13-to-15-year-olds still access TikTok and Snapchat. The ban, which affects major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat, requires companies to block users under 16 or face fines of up to A$49.5 million. Qustodio reported that Snapchat usage among this age group dropped 13.8 percentage points to 20.3%, while TikTok usage fell 5.7 points to 21.2%, and YouTube usage dipped slightly to 36.9%. The decline is steeper than typical seasonal drops during the school summer break, indicating some impact from the ban. However, some teenagers are slowly resuming activity on these platforms if parental blocks are not in place. Authorities, including the eSafety Commissioner, are monitoring compliance and engaging with platforms to prevent violations. The government acknowledges that raising the minimum age for social media use is a cultural change that will take time to fully implement. Despite concerns about teens moving to unregulated platforms, migration to alternatives has been minimal, though WhatsApp use among young teens saw a small increase. This data is among the first insights into how the ban affects youth online behavior and may guide similar regulations worldwide.