Australia’s recently instituted ban on adolescents using social media in late 2025 has done little—at least in the short term—to meaningfully curb social media use among youth, according to a new study published in BMJ.Why It’s Relevant
Social media has become a ubiquitous part of adolescence, and while it may allow young people to connect with each other and express themselves, the harm caused from excessive or unregulated use—such as depression, anxiety, and poor sleep—has raised concerns.
In late 2025, Australia became the first country in the world to implement a national minimum age of 16 years for holding accounts on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. As other countries have begun to follow suit, Australian researchers surveyed 408 adolescents ages 12 to 16 (54% female) both before and three months after the age restriction took effect to assess its impact.
By the Numbers
- Three months after the law went into effect, daily social media use remained similar among 12- to 13-year-olds (51% to 49%), decreased among 14- and 15-year-olds (from 78% to 69%), and increased among 16-year-olds (from 80% to 89%).
- Time spent on social media fell from an average of roughly 2.5 hours to two hours per day among 14- and 15-year-olds but remained stable among 12- to 13-year-olds (1.5 hours per day) and 16-year-olds (nearly three hours per day).
- More than 86% of participants under age 16 had accessed one or more social media platforms three months after the ban was implemented; 68% of 14- to 15-year-olds and 54% of 12- to 13-year-old used their own accounts.
- Strategies that Australian adolescents reported using to circumvent the ban included accessing someone else’s account, creating fake accounts, and using private browsers.
The Other Side
The study relied on self-reported measures to assess social media use, and many studies have found discrepancies between subjective and objective measures of digital media use. Additionally, the authors noted that the full impact of legislation that raises or lowers minimum ages for activities may not be evident for years.
Takeaway Message
“Australia’s experience shows that legislating a restriction is not the same as enforcing one: when age assurance relied on self-declared age, most adolescents continued to access restricted platforms,” Amrit Kaur Purba, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.N., wrote in an invited commentary. “As governments across Europe, North America, and elsewhere consider similar approaches, Australia’s experience suggests that implementation may matter as much as legislation, and that lesson may prove as consequential as any headline result.”
Related Information
Source
Courtney Barnes, et al. Assessing early effects of Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age Act on adolescents’ social media use: observational study. BMJ. Published online June 24, 2026. doi:doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2026-363695
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