Jakarta, INTI - Children in Australia still have social media accounts despite the government's restrictions on access for users under 16. This finding is based on a survey conducted by the Molly Rose Foundation.
As reported by Engadget, the survey involved 1,050 respondents aged 12 to 15 in March 2026. The results showed that 61 percent of children who previously used social media still had at least one active account, despite the restrictions.
4 Months of Implementation, Access is Still Easy
Australia itself became the first country to implement a ban on social media use for children under 16, which came into effect on December 10, 2025. However, the survey also found that around 70 percent of children still easily access platforms that should have been restricted.
Molly Rose Foundation CEO, Andy Burrows, assessed this finding as casting doubt on the policy's effectiveness. He also stated that making similar measures would still be a “high-stakes gamble” for the UK.
Meanwhile, the Australian government, through the eSafety Commissioner, is currently evaluating digital platforms' compliance with these regulations. Several platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, are currently under investigation for alleged violations.
The government stated that a decision regarding the enforcement of these regulations will be announced in mid-2026. If proven to be in violation, digital platforms could face sanctions ranging from administrative fines to penalties of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (approximately Rp600 trillion).
Conclusion
A survey conducted by Molly Rose Foundation found that most children in Australia still have access to social media despite the ban for those under 16, with 61 percent still having active accounts and around 70 percent easily accessing platforms. These findings raise doubts about the policy's effectiveness. The government is also investigating the compliance of digital platforms like TikTok and Instagram, with potential significant penalties for violations.
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