Australia was the pioneer in barring children under 16 from using major social media platforms, a move initiated in December 2025 aimed at reducing negative cognitive, social, and mental health impacts on youth. However, initial findings indicate poor compliance.
Research shows nearly 75% of 14- and 15-year-olds in Australia are not adhering to the ban, primarily because they perceive few others following it, as reported in a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper. Those who comply are socially marginalized, while non-compliers face no repercussions.
Cass Sunstein, a co-author of the paper, points out that the lack of incentives or penalties for compliance diminishes the ban’s effectiveness. Teens are influenced by the desire to fit in, and the absence of consequences makes the ban seem irrelevant.
Sunstein expressed surprise at the high non-compliance rate, underscoring the disparity between social norms and legal mandates. The fear of missing out (FOMO) keeps teens engaged on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, even when they dislike them.
The study highlights the difficulty of changing behaviors when social inclusion is at stake. For the ban to be successful, compliance needs to reach a tipping point, which is estimated to be around three-quarters of the population.
Sunstein suggests that educational campaigns could help shift norms by promoting the benefits of reduced social media use. Additionally, providing incentives or adjusting policies, such as implementing time limits instead of outright bans, might improve adherence.
He emphasizes that the problem is not insurmountable, proposing various strategies Australia could employ to change the perception of social media abstinence. Encouraging young influencers to endorse staying off social media could also be effective.
Original Source: news.harvard.edu
