Australia has been at the forefront of regulating social media access for minors, with its world-first national legislation taking effect in December 2025. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act restricts access to social media accounts for children under 16 years old. While some parents have reported positive behavioural shifts in their children aged 16 and under since the law took effect, others have noted negative changes.
The YouGov survey of 1,070 Australian adults provides valuable insights into the impact of this legislation. The results show that many parents have observed several positive effects, including increased in-person social interactions and improved parent-child relationships. However, some parents also reported negative impacts, such as reduced social connection and creativity online.
Despite these mixed findings, the survey suggests that parents believe greater parental involvement and stricter enforcement could improve the effectiveness of the ban. Two thirds of adults surveyed agreed that more parental involvement would make a difference, while 56% believed stricter age verification would enhance the legislation's impact.
However, there are also concerns about the implementation of effective age-assurance processes. The survey found that social media platforms had removed over 4.7 million accounts of children under 16 last December, but this figure may not be an accurate representation of the actual number of young people affected. Additionally, young people have reportedly circumvented age verification restrictions.
The YouGov survey took place online in January, a little over a month after social media age restrictions took effect. This timing is significant, as social media usage among under-16s had dropped only marginally in the first three months of the ban. Furthermore, a report by Crikey based on new data by parental control company Qustodio showed that social media usage among under-16s had actually increased on some platforms.
The survey highlights the need for further research into the impact of this legislation and its effectiveness in preventing online harms. It also underscores the importance of understanding the complex challenges around implementation of effective age-assurance processes. The reported behavioural changes observed by parents may not necessarily be attributed to the ban itself, but rather to other factors such as social media usage patterns during the summer holidays.
It is also worth noting that the survey's findings are limited by its lack of detail on the demographics of the respondents and their children. This omission makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions about the impact of the legislation on different age groups or socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ultimately, the success of this legislation will depend on its ability to balance individual freedoms with the need to protect young people from online harms. As such, further research and evaluation are necessary to ensure that the ban is effective in achieving its intended goals.
The Australian government's efforts to regulate social media access for minors have sparked a national conversation about the role of technology in shaping children's lives. While the early signs suggest that some parents have noticed positive behavioural shifts in their children, it remains to be seen whether this legislation will ultimately make a meaningful difference in preventing online harms.
The survey highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of the impact of social media on children's behavior, as well as the importance of effective age-assurance processes.
