Radar.am — Australian authorities remain steadfast in their push to ban social media for children under 16, despite recent data painting a concerning picture. According to official statistics, more than 80% of teenagers continue to access platforms without restriction, three months after the regulations came into effect.
The ban, which has been in place since December, aims to protect the mental and physical health of children. Government representative Andrew Leigh notes that millions of accounts have already been blocked, yet achieving 100% compliance seemed unrealistic from the start. He compares this to age restrictions on alcohol sales, where violations also occur frequently.
A study conducted by the internet regulator 'eSafety' has revealed an unexpected reality. As of March, children aged 10-15 were using social media with the same frequency as they were before the ban. Furthermore, the research indicates that parental supervision in this regard has actually decreased. Authorities intend to drastically tighten oversight mechanisms and double the fines for technology companies that fail to comply with the law.
