Most Australian teens admit the social media ban isn't working as they try to sidestep age verification blocks with face masks and their parents' IDs | Fortune

"Evelyn, a 14-year-old in New South Wales, planned to use her mother's face ID to log in to Snapchat and Instagram, showcasing the lengths teens will go to bypass restrictions."

"A survey of 1,050 Australians ages 12 to 15 found that more than 60% of teens who had social media accounts before the ban still had access to at least one platform."

"Social media sites including TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram have retained more than half of their users under 16, indicating the ineffectiveness of the ban."

"Australia has become the guinea pig for other governments considering hefty restrictions on social media, with several countries looking to implement similar measures."

Following Australia's social media ban for children under 16, teenagers quickly found ways to bypass restrictions. Many used methods like facial recognition tricks and VPNs. A survey revealed over 60% of teens still accessed social media platforms despite the ban. Major platforms retained a significant number of users under 16, with many reporting no action taken against existing accounts. Australia’s approach has drawn attention from other countries considering similar restrictions on social media for minors.

Read at Fortune