Australia bans teens from social media, but nobody thinks it'll really work

Australia’s ban on children under 16 holding active social media accounts comes into force on Wednesday. While nobody expects this world-first policy to stop every kid using their favorite online communities, its backers take solace in the mere fact it’s sparked global debate.

The ban won’t stop kids using social media, and nobody disputes that. Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has admitted as much.

“From the beginning, we’ve acknowledged this process won’t be 100 per cent perfect,” he wrote in an opinion piece that compares the social media ban to laws that regulate underage drinking.

Not really a ban
Australia’s social media ban isn’t really a ban, because it allows netizens of any age to use any social media service so long as they’re not logged in, or to use accounts established by someone over 16. The core requirements of the ban – formally the Social Media Minimum Age obligation – require designated platforms to cancel accounts held by anyone under 16, and to take reasonable steps not to allow anyone under that age to acquire and operate an account.
 

The obligation currently applies to the platforms listed below:

Facebook
Instagram
Kik
Reddit
Snapchat
Threads
TikTok
Twitch
X (formerly Twitter)
YouTube