Report: most Australian teens still on social media despite ban
More than eight in 10 Australian teenagers are still using social media three months after the government's landmark ban took effect, a new report finds. The report points to a lack of effective age verification checks.
More than eight in 10 Australian teenagers are still using social media three months after the government's world-first ban on under-16s took effect, according to a new report. The ban was introduced to protect children from online harms.
The report identifies major platforms' failure to implement effective age verification systems as the key factor undermining the ban's effectiveness. Many teens are easily bypassing the restrictions by entering false birth dates or using parents' accounts.
Government officials have pledged to tighten enforcement, while critics question the ban's practicality and effectiveness. Other countries considering similar regulations are watching Australia's experience closely.
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