Australian Teens Return to TikTok After Social Media Ban
Australia’s TikTok social media ban faces fresh questions after teen usage began rising again. The country introduced restrictions for children under 16 last December. The rules aimed to reduce young users’ exposure to major social platforms.
However, new Qustodio data shows that many teenagers have returned to TikTok. The figures cover Australian families using Qustodio parental controls. Around 26% of children aged 13 to 15 accessed TikTok last month. That figure sits just one percentage point below its pre-ban level. Usage among children aged 10 to 12 has also increased. Their current rate now exceeds the level recorded before the restrictions.
Age Restrictions Face New Challenges
TikTok initially saw a sharp decline after Australia introduced its restrictions. However, usage gradually increased across several platforms. Instagram and Snapchat also recorded similar patterns. Their usage remains below TikTok, but activity has started climbing again. Experts suggest several reasons for the increase. Some teenagers may provide false ages or use VPN services to bypass restrictions.
Others could access platforms through weak or inconsistent age-checking systems. Therefore, enforcement remains a major challenge for Australian authorities. Qustodio studied anonymised information from 19,000 Australian families. Researchers measured children who accessed restricted apps at least monthly. Meanwhile, WhatsApp gained popularity because the restrictions do not cover the messaging service. Usage among 13-to-15-year-olds increased from 27% to 36%.
Australia Now Faces Pressure To Strengthen Enforcement
The government has also proposed higher penalties for platforms that fail to follow the rules. No social platform has received a fine under the restrictions so far. Therefore, regulators may need more time before judging the policy.
New Zealand has announced similar plans for children under 16. As a result, Australia’s experience could influence other governments. The latest figures show that blocking access alone may not prevent teenagers from returning online.
