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3mo ago

After Ban, Over One-Fifth of Australian Teens Still Access TikTok and Snapchat

Regulators are monitoring age checks before pursuing systemic enforcement.

A girl uses her mobile phone after an interview discussing Australia's social media ban for users under 16, which is scheduled to take effect on December 10, in Sydney, Australia, November 22, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Data is starting to emerge, three months after the teen social media ban came into effect (Image: AAP)

Overview

  • New Qustodio data shows Snapchat use among Australians aged 13–15 fell 13.8 percentage points to 20.3% by February, with TikTok down 5.7 points to 21.2%.
  • The law requires major platforms to block users under 16 or face fines of up to A$49.5 million.
  • An eSafety Commission spokesperson said the office is engaging with platforms and their age‑assurance providers and is watching for systemic failures that could breach the law.
  • A spokesperson for the communications minister said raising the minimum age represents a cultural change that will take time.
  • The report notes steeper-than-usual summer declines with some recovery starting, a small uptick in WhatsApp use, and a one‑point dip in YouTube to 36.9% where viewing without logging in remains allowed.