World News
Social media use among Australian minors rises toward pre-ban levels, data shows
Usage metrics from parental control software suggest under-16s are circumventing Australia's social media restrictions.
The short version
- Data from parental control software company Qustodio indicates social media activity among Australian under-16s is rebounding after an initial decline following a December ban.
- Usage of apps such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat has increased, while engagement with exempt messaging platforms like WhatsApp has also grown.
- Experts suggest minors may be bypassing age restrictions using virtual private networks (VPNs) or false age profiles.
Key facts
- Data from parental control app Qustodio showed social media usage among Australian under-16s is rising toward levels seen prior to the December ban.[Hacker News]
- Among Australian teenagers aged 13 to 15, 25.9 percent used TikTok, which is slightly over one percentage point lower than pre-ban levels.[Hacker News]
- TikTok usage among children aged 10 to 12 was recorded at 0.06 percentage points below pre-ban figures.[Hacker News]
- Qustodio's metrics observed an increase in children using WhatsApp, an app exempt from the social media ban.[Hacker News]
- A peer-reviewed study published in June by Australian researchers similarly found little indication that teenagers ceased using social media following the restriction.[Hacker News]
What remains uncertain
- The exact methods minors are using to access restricted platforms remain unconfirmed, though experts cite potential age falsification, VPNs, or technical enforcement failures.[Hacker News]