Young people in Australia continue to access restricted social media platforms despite legislation passed in December 2025. which prohibits access to apps like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X, Reddit and YouTube for those under 16..
The regulations require technology companies to implement security filters to prevent this population from accessing their services, under threat of financial penalties of up to 99 million Australian dollars. However, a report by the parental control firm Qustodio indicates that users have resumed using the restricted services after an initial adjustment period.
The analysis was based on anonymized data from 19.000 families in that country and assessed users' access to the apps for at least five continuous minutes over a one-month period. The report identified that minors use virtual private networks (VPNs) and falsify birthdates to circumvent age verification and facial recognition controls implemented on the platforms.
