{"rewrite":{"id":"r_da8249bfb8d4bbf72f309cd6","clusterId":"c_1579fbe666c141d6baba6f48","slug":"study-finds-86-of-under-16s-still-use-social-media-in-australia-despite-ban","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Study Finds 86% of Under-16s Still Use Social Media in Australia Despite Ban","summary":"A study published in The BMJ found that three months after Australia's Social Media Minimum Age Act took effect, approximately 86% of under-16s were still using targeted platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. The law, which took effect December 10, 2025, requires platforms to prevent under-16s from creating or maintaining accounts but does not penalize minors.","whyItMatters":"The study suggests Australia's landmark age-restriction law has not substantially changed adolescent social media use in its early months, raising questions about enforcement and platform compliance.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eResearchers at the University of Newcastle surveyed 408 young Australians aged 12 to 17 just before the law took effect and again three months later. About two-thirds of under-16s reported encountering some form of age verification, but methods varied widely: 24-39% were asked to self-report their age, 13-27% to upload a selfie, and only 5-11% to submit official identification. The study, led by public health researcher Courtney Barnes, was published in The BMJ. Earlier data from the eSafety Commissioner showed roughly 4.7 million teenage accounts were suspended in the law\u0026#39;s first month, but subsequent research by the Molly Rose Foundation also found continued use by minors.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Study in The BMJ: 86% of under-16s in Australia still use social media three months after the world's first under-16 ban took effect. Age verification methods varied, with only 5-11% asked for ID.","twitterPost":"Study in The BMJ: 86% of under-16s in Australia still use social media three months after the under-16 ban took effect. Age verification methods varied, with only 5-11% asked for ID.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"A study published in The BMJ found that three months after Australia's Social Media Minimum Age Act took effect, approximately 86% of under-16s were still using targeted platforms. The research surveyed 408 young Australians and found age verification methods varied, with only a small minority asked to submit official identification.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"GIGAZINE\",\"url\":\"https://gigazine.net/news/20260701-australia-under-16-social-media-ban-study/\",\"title\":\"Approximately 86% of under-16s continue using social media despite ban being in effect for three months\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4214,"outputTokens":569,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1782876534,"createdAt":"2026-07-01T03:20:55.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-01T03:24:50.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-01T03:24:50.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_1579fbe666c141d6baba6f48","canonicalTitle":"SNS禁止法が施行されて3カ月が経過するも16歳未満の約86％がSNSを使い続けていることが判明","representativeArticleId":"a_fd096432f06e2507e902971d","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"other\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-01T02:40:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-01T02:40:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-01T03:24:50.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"GIGAZINE","url":"https://gigazine.net/news/20260701-australia-under-16-social-media-ban-study/","title":"SNS禁止法が施行されて3カ月が経過するも16歳未満の約86％がSNSを使い続けていることが判明"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":[],"studios":[],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"other","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":null}