Indonesia's Social Media Ban Falters in Australia as Teens Remain 'Severely Addicted'

The Australian government has defended its world-first social media ban for children under 16, following new data showing the policy has failed to halt usage among teenagers. The defence came a day after the country’s internet regulator found that more than eight in ten Australian teens were still using social media three months after the ban commenced. The findings underscore the difficulty of policing the digital realm, which has become deeply embedded in daily life. Australia implemented the ban in December due to concerns over the impact of social media on children’s mental and physical health. Responding to the regulator’s findings, Assistant Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and the Treasury Andrew Leigh stated the ban has transformed the national debate around children’s social media use. ‘The ban has been an important game-changer in the conversation among parents,’ Leigh said. He also noted that the government has shut down millions of accounts since the policy was introduced. Leigh acknowledged that the government never expected full compliance. ‘We never expected 100% compliance. We don’t get 100% compliance with minimum-age laws for alcohol, but it is still appropriate that we have those laws,’ he said. However, the eSafety study painted a worrying picture, finding that children aged 10 to 15 were using social media just as frequently in March as they were before the ban took effect on 10 December. The study also indicated that parental awareness of their children’s online habits actually declined after the policy was implemented. Indonesia followed Australia’s lead by enforcing Government Regulation on Child Protection and its derivative, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Regulation Number 9 of 2026, which banned children under 16 from holding social media accounts starting in March 2026.