Is Australia’s social media ban for under-16s effective?

The BBC spoke to Australian teenagers about the social media ban for under-16s, three months since the law came into effect on December 10, 2025.

Under the law, social media companies must take “reasonable steps” to prevent children from using their platforms and face fines of up to A$49.5 million (£24.5 million) if they fail to do so.

Children and parents will not be punished for violating the ban.

According to the Australian government, 4.7 million accounts under the age of 16 were deactivated, deleted or restricted in the first few days of the ban.