Teens Are Beating Social Media Bans. Experts Say Don't Close the Loopholes
Australia – October 19, 2026 -- A study published this year found that four in five Australian teens under 16 got onto platforms barred by the country's 2024 social media ban. In an opinion piece, researchers Michal Luria, Aliya Bhatia and Danah Boyd argue that tightening enforcement would make kids and adults less safe online.
Bans are spreading, and so are workarounds
France joined Australia in July by barring under-15s from major platforms, though the country's top court blocked the ban on human rights grounds. The UK aims to bar under-16s in early 2027, and the EU has announced its own plan for under-15s. Teens in Australia have used a sibling's face for ID checks and even drawn fake facial hair.