An eSafety report shows that 80% of children continue to use restricted platforms, highlighting the issues with implementing age verification measures.

A recent report from the eSafety Commissioner in Australia shows that, three months after the implementation of age restrictions on social media platforms, over 80% of children continue to use apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. Although the number of children with accounts has decreased from 52% to 42%, the continued use of these platforms remains concerning. The main problem identified is the ineffective implementation of age verification measures, with over half of the children stating that the platforms did not ask them to confirm their age. Additionally, 18% reported incorrect age estimates, and 37% stated that they had listed their age as 16 or older to gain access.

The report suggests that the restrictions have not led to significant changes in children's offline behavior, and some have migrated to other platforms. Furthermore, the number of parents who were unaware that their children use social media has increased by 10%. These findings highlight the urgent need to improve platform compliance and implement more effective measures to protect children from harmful content. The Australian government is now under pressure to investigate non-compliance and impose penalties, while preparing to introduce legislation to ensure the protection of users of all ages.