- Teenage use of TikTok and Snapchat declines but persists in some groups
- Platforms remove millions of underage accounts but face enforcement hurdles
- International interest grows as Australia’s approach influences other countries’ policies
Two months after Australia introduced the world’s first nationwide ban preventing under-16s from holding accounts on major social media platforms, early data suggests teenage use has fallen but not disappeared.
A report from parental control software maker Qustodio found activity among 13- to 15-year-olds on TikTok and Snapchat declined between November and February, though more than one in five teenagers in that group continued to use the apps.
“Among children whose parents haven’t blocked access, a meaningful number continue to use restricted platforms in the months following the ban,” Qustodio said.
Snapchat use among 13- to 15-year-olds fell by 13.8 percentage points to 20.3 per cent, while TikTok use dropped 5.7 points to 21.2 per cent. YouTube usage slipped one point to 36.9 per cent, though the law allows unregistered viewing.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner said the office was “actively engaging with platforms and their age assurance providers” while monitoring potential breaches.
Platforms have removed or restricted about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children since the law took effect in December 2025, according to media reports. Companies have introduced age checks ranging from government ID verification to biometric age estimation.
Teenagers have also sought workarounds, including using relatives’ identification, underscoring the difficulty of enforcing the rules. Governments abroad are watching closely as Australia’s experiment unfolds.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://thefrontierpost.com/one-fifth-of-australian-teens-still-use-tiktok-snapchat-after-social-media-ban/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.academicjobs.com/higher-education-news/australia-enforces-worlds-first-teen-social-media-ban-2026-1311 – In January 2026, Australia implemented a ban prohibiting individuals under 16 from using certain social media platforms. By mid-January, approximately 4.7 million accounts had been removed or restricted across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This move aims to protect children from harmful online environments. However, some teenagers have found ways to circumvent the ban, raising questions about its effectiveness. The ban has also led to a 10-15% decline in ad revenues for platforms in Australia, prompting discussions about potential exemptions. The situation continues to evolve as stakeholders assess the impact of this unprecedented regulation.
- https://apnews.com/article/2ae8c00402098db69797eb64c52e3d56 – Following Australia’s ban on social media use for individuals under 16, about 4.7 million child accounts have been removed or restricted by major platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Enacted in December 2025, the law mandates strict penalties of up to AU$49.5 million for companies that fail to take action. Platforms can verify users’ ages using ID checks, facial recognition technology, or account data analysis. Communications Minister Anika Wells and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant called the results encouraging, emphasizing the law’s role in safeguarding children from harmful online environments and predatory companies. Meta alone reported deleting 550,000 underage accounts. While privacy advocates and youth groups expressed concerns about the loss of beneficial online communities, the ban has garnered strong support from parents and child safety campaigners. Though some young users have reportedly circumvented the ban, officials noted no sustained increase in activity on alternative apps. Inspired by Australia’s approach, other countries like Denmark are considering similar regulations. Additionally, Australia’s eSafety Commission plans to introduce new AI chatbot restrictions in March.
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-05/social-media-ban-do-under-16s-think-it-is-working/106304064 – Two months after Australia’s social media ban for under-16s took effect, teenagers have expressed skepticism about its effectiveness. Despite the ban, many teens report continued access to platforms like Snapchat and TikTok, often through age verification methods such as using older family members’ identification. Some teens believe the ban is ineffective, stating that it hasn’t significantly impacted their social media usage. The situation highlights challenges in enforcing age restrictions and raises questions about the ban’s overall impact on youth online behaviour.
- https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3333875/snapchat-makes-australian-teens-verify-age-social-media-ban-looms – As Australia’s social media ban for under-16s approaches, Snapchat has begun requiring Australian teens to verify their age. Starting this week, many users will be asked to verify their age to continue accessing Snapchat. Users can do so using an Australian bank account, government-issued identification, or by taking a photo of their face, which a third party will then use to provide an estimated age range. From December 10, users under 16 will have their accounts locked. Snapchat has advised teen users to download their data as soon as possible, as it may be tricky to do so once the ban starts.
- https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/12/05/what-is-australias-under-16-social-media-ban-the-world-first-law-explained.html – Australia’s social media ban, effective from December 10, 2025, restricts users under 16 from holding accounts on major platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Kick, Twitch, Threads, and X. As the first country to adopt such comprehensive age restrictions for social media, the result of Australia’s social media ban is being closely watched by governments worldwide. University of Sydney experts have weighed in on the implications of this historic policy shift affecting Australian children and teenagers.
- https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2024/australia-is-banning-social-media-for-people-under-16-could-this-work-elsewhere-or-even-there/ – Australia’s new law banning individuals under 16 from using certain social media platforms has sparked international interest. The legislation holds platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars for systemic failures to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts. This move has prompted discussions about the effectiveness of such bans and whether similar measures could be implemented elsewhere to protect young users from online harms.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article references a report from Qustodio, a parental control software provider, indicating that while activity among 13- to 15-year-olds on TikTok and Snapchat fell between November and February, more than one in five in that age group continued to use those apps. This aligns with previously reported data from Qustodio’s annual study of children’s app and online tool use, which found that Australian children averaged 132 minutes a day on TikTok in 2025. ([futurefive.com.au](https://futurefive.com.au/story/aussie-kids-averaged-over-two-hours-a-day-on-tiktok-in-2025?utm_source=openai)) The article also mentions that the Australian government is actively monitoring compliance with the ban, with the eSafety Commissioner acknowledging reports that some under-16s remain online and stating that the office is “actively engaging with platforms and their age assurance providers.” ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-10/social-media-ban-day-one-teen-access/106126706?utm_source=openai)) However, the article does not provide a specific publication date, making it difficult to assess the freshness of the information. Given the lack of a clear publication date and the reliance on previously reported data, the freshness score is moderate.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from Qustodio, the eSafety Commissioner, and Communications Minister Anika Wells. However, without specific publication dates or verifiable sources for these quotes, it’s challenging to confirm their authenticity. The absence of verifiable sources for these quotes raises concerns about their accuracy and reliability.
Source reliability
Score:
5
Notes:
The article appears to originate from The Frontier Post, a publication that is not widely recognized in the mainstream media landscape. The lack of a clear publication date and the reliance on previously reported data from Qustodio and government officials further complicate the assessment of the source’s reliability. Given these factors, the source reliability score is moderate.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims made in the article are plausible and align with known information about the Australian government’s social media ban for under-16s. The article mentions that platforms like TikTok and Snapchat have taken steps to comply with the ban, including removing or restricting accounts identified as belonging to children. This is consistent with reports that Meta removed over 500,000 suspected teen accounts across its platforms within a week of the ban’s implementation. ([techradar.com](https://www.techradar.com/computing/social-media/meta-wipes-over-500-000-australian-teen-accounts-in-a-single-week-but-says-world-first-social-media-crackdown-is-failing?utm_source=openai)) However, the lack of specific publication dates and verifiable sources for the quotes introduces some uncertainty regarding the accuracy of the claims.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents plausible claims regarding the continued use of TikTok and Snapchat by Australian teens despite the social media ban. However, the lack of specific publication dates, verifiable sources for quotes, and reliance on previously reported data from Qustodio and government officials raises concerns about the freshness, originality, and reliability of the information. Given these issues, the overall assessment is a FAIL.
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