Social media use on the rise among Australian under-16s after ban: data

Australian under-16s are increasing use of Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat after a December ban, with 25.9% of 13-15-year-olds still on TikTok and 10-12-year-olds nearly at pre-ban levels. Qustodio data shows rising WhatsApp use, a platform not covered by the ban, suggesting children are accessing services via VPNs or age obfuscation. The trend indicates the restrictions are not fully effective.