Australia's World-First Social Media Ban for Under-16s Has Barely Dented Usage, Regulator Finds

More than 80% of Australian children under 16 still use social media three months after the country's world-first ban took effect December 10, 2025, according to regulator eSafety. Daily usage dropped from 60% to 58%. About half of children who kept accounts said platforms never checked their age. Australia's government has defended the ban as a long-term intervention.