More than 80% of Australian children aged 12 and under accessed social media or messaging platforms last year that are typically restricted to those 13 and older, according to a recent report from the country’s internet regulator, eSafety. The most frequented platforms among these younger users were YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat. This news comes as Australia gears up to implement a social media ban targeting children under 16, anticipated to take effect by the end of the year.
The examined platforms, which include Discord, Google (YouTube), Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Reddit, Snap, TikTok, and Twitch, did not reply to requests for comments. Generally, users must be at least 13 years old to create accounts, although exceptions exist. Notably, YouTube offers Family Link, permitting children under 13 to access the platform with adult supervision, as well as the YouTube Kids app tailored specifically for younger audiences. However, the usage figures for YouTube Kids were not included in this report.
Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety commissioner, noted that the report could inform future actions by regulators. Inman Grant emphasized that ensuring online safety for children is a collective responsibility involving social media platforms, device developers, parents, educators, and legislators.
The study surveyed over 1,500 children between the ages of eight and 12 regarding their social media habits. Of those surveyed, 84% admitted using at least one social media or messaging service within the past year. More than half accessed these platforms through a parent's or caregiver's account, while roughly one-third had their own accounts, often with assistance from adults in setting them up. Alarmingly, only 13% of the children reported having their accounts suspended by social media companies for violating age restrictions.
The report pointed out notable inconsistencies among social media companies in their age verification processes during account sign-ups. It highlighted a lack of effective measures in preventing underage users from misrepresenting their ages when creating accounts.
Platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube mentioned employing technologies to screen for younger users, stating that these tools rely on user engagement to identify underage individuals. Unfortunately, this reliance on user interaction may leave children exposed to potential online risks and dangers during the initial engagement period.
