Australian Teens Evade New Social Media Ban Within 24 Hours as Under-16s Return to Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat

Australia’s world-first ban on social media use by under-16s has faced an immediate challenge, with many teenagers quickly finding ways to bypass restrictions and regain access to banned platforms.

Fourteen-year-old Lucy Brooks, a cheerleader from Brisbane, lost access to Instagram and Snapchat when the law came into effect on Wednesday. Within a day, she and her friends were back online, creating new accounts or using their parents’ photos to evade age verification technology.

“A lot of the time it was with the parents’ knowledge, but people are also using AI-generated images of older people to get past it,” Lucy said.

Social Media Ban Faces Loopholes

The legislation places responsibility on social media companies to prevent children under 16 from accessing their platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. Critics warned that younger users could circumvent the ban, and early reports confirm these predictions. Age verification systems may detect some underage users, but enforcement remains challenging.

Leo Puglisi, 18, founder of online news channel 6 News, criticised the measure, saying it fails to stop teenagers from going online. “I know that it doesn’t stop young people going on social media because my brother is under 16, and he is still on social media right now. He didn’t even try to bypass it,” Puglisi told CNN.

Government Celebrates Legislation

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese marked the law’s introduction with a Sydney barbecue and a symbolic lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in green and gold. Guests included parents of children who died by suicide due to cyberbullying and advocates for child safety online. Campaigners promoted the slogan “Let Them Be Kids,” highlighting the government’s intent to protect young Australians from online abuse and sexual exploitation.

Despite the celebrations, teenagers appear undeterred. A group of 15-year-olds interviewed by CNN confirmed they had not lost access to social media, with some noting it was easy to bypass restrictions by entering a false birth year. Many said platforms like Snapchat remain essential for messaging friends without exchanging phone numbers.

Challenges Ahead

Experts warn that while the ban aims to protect young users, social and technological loopholes mean underage access may continue. Many parents are aware of these workarounds and sometimes facilitate them. The legislation has reignited debate over the balance between child safety and digital freedom for older teenagers who are digitally savvy.