Australia’s landmark attempt to restrict children’s access to social media is facing enforcement challenges, with a large majority of users aged between 12 and 15 reportedly continuing to access online platforms despite the country’s world-first ban. The government has announced plans to review the legislation and examine whether authorities have enough power to ensure compliance.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told broadcaster ABC that his government intends to subject the law behind the social media restrictions to a “stress test.” A key focus of the review will be whether the country’s internet regulator has sufficient authority to enforce the rules. Albanese said the government wants to ensure the legislation is “as strong as possible” and capable of withstanding legal challenges.
The law, introduced in December 2025, prevents platforms including Instagram and YouTube from allowing users under the age of 16 to create accounts. The measure was introduced as a child protection initiative, but early evidence has raised questions about its practical impact.
A study published in the British Medical Journal found that the ban had achieved limited results in reducing social media use among young Australians. According to the research, three months after the restrictions came into effect, 85 percent of Australians aged between 12 and 15 were still using social media platforms.
The study found that many young users were able to bypass the restrictions by providing false information about their age or using images of older individuals that platforms accepted as proof of being above the age limit. Parents have also reported that the law has had little visible effect on their children’s online activity.
The Australian government and regulators have responded by announcing legal action against several platforms. Companies found to have systematically ignored the restrictions could face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars, equivalent to around 30 million euros.
At the same time, the restrictions are facing legal challenges from within the technology sector. Online discussion platform Reddit has filed a case against the ban with Australia’s High Court, the country’s highest judicial body. The case is currently in the preliminary stages.
Australia’s experience has become part of a wider international debate over how governments should regulate children’s access to social media. Several countries, including France, Canada, Spain, Slovenia, Greece, and the United Kingdom, have introduced restrictions or are working on similar measures aimed at strengthening protections for young users.
The debate is also developing in Germany, where a government-appointed commission has recently presented options for tighter regulation of social media access. One proposal includes a legal ban preventing children under 13 from using social media platforms.
For older teenagers, the German proposals focus instead on stronger age verification systems and different levels of protection depending on whether users are between 13 and 16 or between 16 and 18 years old.
Australia’s review of its social media restrictions highlights the difficulties governments face in enforcing age-based limits in a digital environment where users can easily attempt to bypass verification systems. The government’s next steps will focus on strengthening the legal framework and determining whether additional powers are needed to make the restrictions more effective.
