This Is Why Is a social media ban workable?
Jan 21, 2026
Mickey Carroll, a Sky News science and technology reporter, provides insights on Australia’s controversial social media ban for under-16s. He discusses the complexity of age verification technologies and the challenges of accurately distinguishing teens from adults. Teenagers may bypass bans using VPNs, raising questions about the effectiveness of this approach. Carroll also highlights the push for better regulation over blanket bans and the ongoing dangers of harmful content on platforms, warning of potential pitfalls as policies develop in the UK.
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How Australia Defined Social Media
- Australia's ban targets platforms that enable interaction and user-posted content rather than named apps alone.
- Age-verification uses AI facial estimation which struggles around late-teen age boundaries.
Teenagers Easily Bypassed Checks
- Teenagers told the Australian reporters they simply told the AI they were over 16 and it believed them.
- There was also a spike in VPN downloads and new app installs that faded without sustained friend networks.
Platforms Warn A Ban Could Backfire
- Major platforms argued a ban could increase risk by pushing kids off parental supervised accounts.
- Companies preferred stronger age verification and content controls over outright prohibition.