US EditionNo 'meaningful' shift from social media sites after Australia teen ban: govt report
Government documents show TikTok and Instagram still dominated downloads one month after the ban, while cyberbullying complaints rose 26% year over year.
- Government documents obtained by AFP show no meaningful shift away from TikTok and Instagram following Australia's world-leading teen social media ban, as users largely returned to major established platforms.
- Australia implemented the world-first ban in December to protect children from online bullying and 'predatory algorithms,' resulting in removal of more than 5 million accounts belonging to underage Australian users since the laws took effect.
- TikTok and Instagram continue 'dominating app store rankings and downloads' one month after the ban, while the Commission reported cyberbullying complaints on banned platforms rose 26 percent comparing January 2026 with January 2025.
- Communications Minister Anika Wells argued the laws are not failing but stated 'big tech is failing to obey' their obligations, with companies facing potential fines of up to Aus$49.5 million under the enforcement regime.
- Israel, the United Kingdom, Norway, and New Zealand met with Australian officials after expressing 'interest' in the ban, with officials assessing whether Australia's legislation provides a blueprint for global tech regulation.
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ledauphine.com
lejsl.comAfter the ban on social networks for children under 16 in Australia, Instagram and TikTok remain among the most downloaded applications, according to government documents.
Is Australia’s teen social media ban working? Internal documents reveal early failures
SYDNEY, April 30 — There was “no meaningful shift” away from big tech platforms like TikTok and Instagram in the immediate wake of Australia’s world-leading teen social media ban, government documents obtained by AFP show.Australia in December banned under 16s from a raft of popular social media platforms, launching a world-first crackdown designed to protect children from online bullying and “predatory algorithms”.There is strong global interes…
According to the government, platforms such as Instagram or TikTok still dominate rankings and downloads despite their ban on children under 16 years of age since December 10.
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