A social media ban is still on the cards for the UK, but Australia’s landmark ruling is failing — here’s how teenagers are still using TikTok and Instagram

• Research shows that Australia's social media ban isn't the most effective
• Some under-16s say platforms haven't taken action to deactivate their accounts
• Despite the failure, the UK government is still considering a similar ban

The UK government is still mulling over a proposed social media ban following Australia becoming the first country to implement the ban — but it turns out, this ruling is failing for the people down under.

In a recent story from Sky News, the outlet revealed that research shows over 60% of underage users in Australia still have access to a range of their social media accounts on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. The research was carried out online by the Molly Rose Foundation between March 12 - 31.

Australia’s social media ban for under-16s has been in effect since December 2025, targeting 10 of the biggest platforms. But even though platforms are now required to close existing underage accounts and prevent the creation of new ones by law, 53% of users were still on TikTok, while 53% used YouTube, and 52% of Instagram users still had access, the research reveals.

Beyond this, the study showed something deeper about these platforms’ efforts to enforce restrictions. According to the research, “two-thirds of YouTube users, 61% of Snapchat users, and 60% of both Instagram and TikTok users” claimed that these platforms didn’t take action to deactivate their accounts, which were created before the ban was issued, leaving users feeling more unsafe post-ban compared to before.

Each of the platforms mentioned above have yet to comment on why restrictive measures haven’t succeeded, but for those who have been signed out of their accounts, parents have apparently noticed positive behavioral changes according to a YouGov poll from March. But while Australia still finds its footing with the ban (it could be targeting VPNs next), the UK is still deliberating a similar ruling, even though research suggests Australia's ban hasn't been that effective.

‘Addictive scrolling mechanisms are really problematic’

Since Australia introduced the ban, the UK government has been seriously considering a similar approach. While it rolled out a slew of age verification requirements last year, it has yet to take action on an official social media ban, but it’s not completely off the cards for Prime Minister Keir Starmer who shared to the BBC "But I think ​equally important, the addictive scrolling mechanisms are really problematic to ​my mind. They need to go."

As it stands, the government is currently experimenting with tools such as curfews and screen time limits for apps to examine their impact on things such as education and family life, as Reuters shares. However, aside from this, the government wants to hear directly from parents and teenagers alike.

This would allow the government to see things from both perspectives. On the one hand it gives parents the opportunity to express any concerns they have regarding their child’s screen time and the type of content they can be exposed to. Consulting teenagers on the other hand would offer an explicit insight to the reality of growing up in the age of social media, especially if teenagers provide account of their own personal experiences.

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