• Australia's social media ban for under-16s shows little impact, with 85% still using platforms.
• The government is considering tougher enforcement and giving more power to the eSafety Commission.
• Countries globally are observing Australia's measures, with some planning similar legislation.
• Legal action could result in fines for platforms failing to comply with the ban.

Australia's initiative to ban social media use for children under 16 has been met with significant skepticism after a recent study indicated almost no decline in usage among teens. According to research published in the British Medical Journal, more than 85% of children aged 12 to 15 are still active on platforms like Instagram and YouTube three months after the ban took effect on December 10, 2025, demonstrating the limitations of the legislation, according to Channel News Asia, Reuters, NPR, and India Times.

The findings revealed that two-thirds of underage users had evaded age verification by simply declaring a false age or using facial selfies accepted by the platforms. This suggests that the ban exists largely on paper, and calls into question its effectiveness in addressing teen access to social media, as highlighted by the study conducted on 408 adolescents, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

In response to these findings, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to strengthen the enforcement of this pioneering legislation, emphasizing the need for the eSafety Commission to have greater authority to regulate non-compliance effectively. As the government works to enhance this approach, it is also observing initiatives in other countries, including the UK, which has begun implementing similar rules affecting a wider range of platforms, according to NPR and India Times.

The eSafety Commission has indicated that it is prepared to take legal action against several platforms, which could result in fines of up to A$49.5 million (approximately $34 million) for failing to comply with the ban. This legal pressure reflects the Australian government's commitment to safeguard children’s online experiences and the potential consequences for failing to adequately manage underage access to their services, as noted by Reuters and India Times.

As Australia sets a precedent with its social media ban, other nations are closely monitoring the effectiveness and potential pitfalls of such legislation as they consider their own measures to protect children from online harms. However, the challenges highlighted by recent studies serve as a stern reminder that comprehensive enforcement of digital laws is fraught with difficulties, according to NPR, India Times, and Reuters.