A study by Australia’s internet regulator, eSafety, found that more than 80% of Australian teenagers remained on social media three months after a national ban for those under age 16 took effect. The report, released on July 31, 2026, indicated that while the number of teenagers owning personal accounts dropped, the frequency of their daily usage remained largely unchanged.
The Australian government implemented the age-based restriction on December 10, 2025, citing concerns over the impact of digital platforms on the mental and physical wellbeing of minors. The policy, which was the first of its kind globally, requires social media companies to prevent users under 16 from accessing their services. Similar measures have since been considered by several other nations monitoring the Australian results.
According to the eSafety report, 81% of children aged 10 to 15 surveyed in March 2026 were still using at least one age-restricted platform, compared to 86% before the ban. Approximately 58% of respondents reported using social media daily, a slight decrease from the 60% recorded previously. About half of the teenagers who kept their accounts stated that platforms had not performed age verification checks, while others reported that they were incorrectly identified as being over 16.
The impact extends to major technology corporations, including Meta (Facebook and Instagram), ByteDance (TikTok), Snap Inc., and Google (YouTube), who are currently under investigation for non-compliance. In June 2026, the Australian government moved to double maximum financial penalties for firms that fail to uphold the ban. For these companies, this could mean hundreds of millions of dollars in potential fines if they are found to have neglected their statutory obligations to verify user ages. These regulatory actions set a legal precedent for how sovereign nations may attempt to compel multinational tech companies to enforce domestic age restrictions.
The knock-on effects may influence pending legislation in Europe and other regions currently debating similar age-gating policies. If Australia’s ban continues to show high rates of circumvention, other governments may shift their focus toward more intrusive age-assurance technologies, such as biometrics or government ID integration, which would change how all citizens access the internet. The eSafety Commissioner’s investigation into the five major platforms is ongoing, and the two-year study will continue to release data periodically to track whether compliance improves as the government strengthens its enforcement powers.
Next steps include the continuation of a two-year evaluation study by a panel of university researchers. The Australian government is currently working to finalize the increased penalty structure and enhanced information-gathering powers for eSafety. Further compliance updates regarding the five named platforms are expected later in 2026.