Australia Social Media Ban Faces Questions as Over 60% of Kids Remain Online

**Executive summary:** New research from the Molly Rose Foundation and YouthInsight indicates that a majority of Australian children aged 12–15 still have access to social media accounts despite the country's under-16 ban, with over half of former TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram users remaining active; the study raises concerns about platform compliance, mixed impacts on child safety and wellbeing, and suggests stronger regulation rather than bans.