Most Australian teens still on social media three months after under-16 ban began, study finds

SYDNEY – More than 8 in 10 Australian teenagers were still using social media three months after the government’s landmark ban on the platforms for minors under the age of 16 took effect because the tech firms failed to implement effective age checks, the country’s internet regulator has found.

In a study published ​on Friday, eSafety also found most children between the ages of 10 and 15 were using social media just as frequently in March as ‌they had ‌before the ban came into force in December last year, while parental awareness of their habits ​decreased.

Children’s continued social media use took place even as account ownership declined to 42% from 52%, with “statistically significant” reductions across YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok in particular, the report said.