Industry data from parental-control firm Qustodio shows that two months after Australia enforced an under-16s social media ban, more than 20% of 13–15-year-olds were still using TikTok and Snapchat despite declines. Snapchat use in that cohort fell 13.8 percentage points to 20.3%, and TikTok fell 5.7 points to 21.2%; YouTube use was 36.9% but may include viewers not signed in. Regulators say they are engaging with platforms and age-assurance providers while monitoring compliance, and the government warns cultural change will take time.
One in Five Australian Teens Still on TikTok and Snapchat Two Months After Under‑16s Ban
A girl uses her mobile phone after an interview discussing Australia's social media ban for users under 16, which is scheduled to take effect on December 10, in Sydney, Australia, November 22, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Two months after Australia enforced a law barring social media access to users under 16, industry data shows roughly one in five teenagers aged 13–15 continued to use major apps, raising questions about how effectively platforms are verifying ages.
Key findings:
Parental-control software firm Qustodio, which collected data from Australian households between late 2024 and February, reported that the share of 13–15-year-olds on Snapchat and TikTok fell after the ban took effect in December but remained above 20%.
Qustodio found that Snapchat use among 13–15-year-olds dropped 13.8 percentage points to 20.3% from November to February, while TikTok use in the same age group fell 5.7 percentage points to 21.2%. YouTube use among 13–15-year-olds dipped by one percentage point to 36.9%; Qustodio’s figures did not specify whether those viewers were logged into accounts, and Australia’s law allows people of any age to view YouTube without logging in.
“Among children whose parents haven't blocked access, a meaningful number continue to use restricted platforms in the months following the ban,” Qustodio said, while also noting that some of the December–January declines are beginning to recover.
The company also highlighted that Australia’s usual December–January decline in teenage social media activity—driven by the long summer school break—was sharper this year, suggesting the legislation had an effect. At the same time, Qustodio recorded only a small uptick in WhatsApp use among 13–15-year-olds and did not observe a large migration to unregulated platforms.
A girl poses while opening the TikTok app on her phone in Sydney, Australia, November 22, 2025. REUTERS/Hollie Adams
Under the law, platforms including Meta’s Instagram, Facebook and Threads, Google’s YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat must prevent people under 16 from accessing services or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (about $35 million).
A spokesperson for the eSafety Commissioner said the office was aware some under-16s remained on social media and was “actively engaging with platforms and their age assurance providers ... while continuing to monitor for any systemic failures that may amount to a breach of the law.” A communications ministry spokesperson for Minister Anika Wells said the government has warned the policy represents a cultural change that will take time.
Caveats and context: The Qustodio data come from participating Australian families and reflect device- and app-use patterns; they do not represent a nationwide, random sample and do not always indicate whether users were logged into accounts. Regulators and academic studies are continuing to track compliance and longer-term effects.
($1 = 1.4122 Australian dollars)
Reporting by Byron Kaye; editing by Christian Schmollinger and Saad Sayeed.
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