Hey, countries mulling a teen social media ban: Australia doesn’t know if ours works yet

2 min read Original article ↗

If you ignore what the politicians are saying, the official position of the regulator is that we don’t know if the ban is helping our kids yet. That shouldn’t be controversial, but it should be on the minds of those thinking about following us.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (centre) and Communications Minister Anika Wells (right) speak to students and staff in Canberra, December 11, 2025 (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (centre) and Communications Minister Anika Wells (right) speak to students and staff in Canberra, December 11, 2025 (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)

It’s been two and a half months since Australia introduced its teen social media ban. So, are the kids fixed yet?

Well, despite taking into account the anecdotal evidence of teens rewilding, news that tech companies have since suspended millions of underage accounts, and evidence of widespread circumvention, it’s really far too early to say if the ban has been a success.

At least, that’s the official position of the Australian regulator whose job it is to enforce it.

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About the author

Cam Wilson

Cam Wilson is Crikey’s associate editor. He previously worked as a reporter at the ABC and is the co-author of Conspiracy Nation: Exposing the dangerous world of Australian conspiracy theories. Got a tip? Contact him securely on Signal at @cmw.69.

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