Children are still accessing social media despite Australia’s under-16 ban because platforms aren’t properly verifying their age, a new report has found.
The report, published today, has found platforms are not consistently verifying age at sign-up, allowing underage users to access accounts from the outset.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Social media giants face probe over under-16 ban
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Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube are all under investigation, with the eSafety Commissioner gathering evidence for potential enforcement action.
Communications Minister Annika Wells told Sunrise on Tuesday while there had been widespread reports of children bypassing restrictions, the responsibility ultimately lies with the platforms themselves.
“We’ve all heard stories of kids getting around the ban, so we’re doing something about it,” Wells said.
“Big tech is responsible for this, and big tech will be held accountable for this.”
A recent survey found about 70 per cent of children are still bypassing the restrictions, using methods such as VPNs, false birthdays, borrowed identification, and even cheap masks.
The report shows the problem is not just kids getting around the rules, but platforms failing to enforce them in the first place.
“It is not good enough for big tech to offer kids multiple attempts to get in through photo scanning,” Wells said.
Wells said the government had spent months building an evidence base for enforcement, which will now move toward legal action.
“Enforcement action has begun, we are building the evidence case, and the eSafety Commissioner can take you to court.”
The landmark social media ban came into effect on December 10, 2025, aimed at protecting children from online harm and limiting their exposure to addictive features and harmful content.
The laws require platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or holding accounts or face fines of up to $50 million.
