Experts caution that measuring success will take years, emphasizing shifts in parental norms about when children should access social media and phones rather than immediate behavioral changes.

Context: The UK and other countries are considering similar measures, with Australia promoted as a potential model for others.

Survey findings show negative effects, including shifts to less-regulated platforms (27%) and reduced online social connection or creativity (25%), while two-thirds of adults support greater parental involvement and 56% favor stricter enforcement and age verification.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is leading a multi-year evaluation with Stanford University and an 11-member academic advisory group, engaging over 4,000 young people and caregivers to study intended and unintended impacts and time-use changes.

YouGov survey limitations include missing parent sample composition, unclear child ages, potential holiday effects, and no direct input from young people.

Ethical considerations: Participants consent to share information for the feature, with privacy guidance and options for alternative contact.

Public engagement: The Guardian is seeking parents’ and carers’ experiences to assess the ban’s effectiveness, its impact on children, and whether youths are bypassing or reducing use, to inform ongoing coverage.

Initial compliance indicators from Australia’s eSafety Commission show about 4.7 million under-16 accounts removed in December, though figures may overcount inactive or duplicate accounts, and some youths reportedly bypass age verification.

An ongoing joint study by MCRI and partners will longitudinally assess the ban’s impact by passively tracking actual time spent on apps, with early data indicating mixed sentiment among youths, as 40% of 13–16-year-olds were supportive or indifferent.

Australia’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, in force since December 2025, is under evaluation through YouGov surveys and other studies to gauge its effects.

The next public compliance report will outline steps platforms have taken to meet the law, with penalties up to A$49.5 million for non-compliance, while observers expect benefits to accumulate more in future generations.

Submission details for the Guardian’s feature collect basic location and background, perceived efficacy and impact on usage, with optional media uploads and follow-up contact options.