Despite a landmark ban on social media for under-16s, a recent report reveals that over 80% of Australian teenagers continue to access these platforms. The eSafety report indicates that many teens have easily circumvented age checks, undermining the government’s efforts to protect young users from potential harm.
The ban, introduced to address concerns about the mental and physical health impacts of social media, has not significantly altered usage patterns. In fact, the percentage of children using social media has only slightly decreased, with many reporting daily usage similar to pre-ban levels.
Critics point to the failure of tech companies to implement effective age verification systems as a key reason for this ongoing access. Many teens have retained their accounts or created new ones without any age checks being enforced, raising questions about the effectiveness of the ban.
While the Australian government defends the initiative as a necessary step in fostering parental awareness and dialogue, the lack of compliance highlights the challenges of regulating digital spaces. This situation may prompt other countries to reconsider their approaches to similar bans, as they observe the outcomes in Australia.
Source: Al Jazeera
