One-fifth of Australian teens still use TikTok, Snapchat after social media ban

One-fifth of Australian teenagers under 16 were still using social media two months after the country banned platforms from allowing minors, industry data showed, raising questions about the effectiveness of age-gating methods being used.



The number of those aged 13 to 15 using TikTok and Snapchat, among the most popular social media apps with Australian teenagers, fell from before the ban took effect in December to February, but more than 20 per cent still used the apps, according to a report by parental control software maker Qustodio.



The data is among the first to show the effects on youth online behaviour since Australia rolled out the ban, which is being copied by governments worldwide.



The Australian government and at least two university studies are tracking the ban’s impact, but none have published data so far.



“Among children whose parents haven’t blocked access, a meaningful number continue to use restricted platforms in the months following the ban,” Qustodio said in the report, which was based on data collected from Australian families from late 2024 to February.



Under the ban, platforms including Meta’s Instagram, Facebook and Threads, Google’s YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat must block people aged under 16 or face a fine of up to US$34.8 million.