澳大利亚政府于2024年12月10日对16岁以下未成年人实施社交媒体禁令[1]，但这一措施的执行效果面临重大挑战。根据eSafety网络安全监管机构的调查，禁令实施三个月后的2025年3月，仍有81%以上的青少年继续使用社交媒体平台[1]。调查对象包括Meta旗下的Facebook和Instagram、Snapchat、TikTok以及Google旗下的YouTube等五个主要平台[1]，样本涵盖4000多名儿童和家庭[1]。
禁令前86%的儿童曾使用年龄限制平台，禁令后这一比例仍维持在81%以上[1]。青少年账户拥有率从禁令前的52%下降至42%[1]。约58%保留账户的青少年报告每天或更频繁地使用社交媒体，相比禁令前的60%仅略有下降[1]。
青少年继续使用社交媒体的主要原因在于平台年龄验证措施不力。约50%保有账户的儿童表示，相关平台未曾检查其年龄[1]。为加强监管，澳大利亚政府已于6月宣布加倍对科技公司的罚款上限，并增强eSafety机构的信息收集权力[1]。
Australia's ban on social media use for under-16s, which took effect on December 10, 2024, has failed to prevent the majority of teenagers from remaining on platforms, according to a survey conducted three months after implementation.[1] More than 80% of young people continued using social media sites despite the restriction, with the eSafety Commissioner's office finding that technology platforms had not effectively enforced age verification measures.[1]
The survey of over 4,000 children and families revealed that approximately 50% of teenagers who retained accounts reported that platforms had not checked their age.[1] Before the ban, 86% of children used age-restricted platforms; after implementation, over 81% continued to do so.[1] While account ownership declined from 52% to 42%, daily or more frequent social media use remained relatively stable at approximately 58%, compared to 60% before the ban.[1] The eSafety Commissioner's investigation examined five major platforms: Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Google's YouTube.[1]
In response to the widespread non-compliance, the Australian government announced in June that it would double the maximum penalties for tech companies and expand the eSafety Commissioner's information-gathering powers.[1]