Despite a sweeping new law designed to lock them out, thousands of Australian teenagers are finding remarkably simple ways to circumvent a national social media ban for under-16s.
Simple tricks to beat high-tech checks
In January 2026, Australia enacted legislation theoretically barring hundreds of thousands of young people from major platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. The law forces companies to use more sophisticated age verification tools, moving beyond simple self-declaration.
These new systems can employ facial or voice analysis, examine browsing history, or check if usage patterns align with school hours. In response, savvy teens have developed low-tech countermeasures. Some are deliberately searching for adult-centric topics online, such as contraceptive solutions, flight bookings, or care homes, to manipulate their digital footprint.
Others are resorting to a more physical approach. When prompted for a facial scan, they simply scrunch up their faces to mimic wrinkles and look older. One teenager, Sophia, told how this method worked for her on Instagram. "I was really nervous, but I scrunched my face up to get more wrinkles, so I looked older, and it worked! I wasn't thrown off," she said.
The ban's limitations and loopholes
The law only applies to a specific list of platforms, notably excluding popular services like the gaming platform Roblox and the chat app Discord. Messaging apps like WhatsApp and child-focused versions like YouTube Kids are also permitted. This has led some, like Sophia's mother Mareee, to criticise the policy as a "Band-Aid" solution that fails to address the core issue of harmful content online.
Mareee pointed to the widespread coverage of the Bodi Beach stabbing as an example, arguing graphic imagery is pervasive across all media. "The footage was everywhere – TV, shops, people talking. Social media isn't the only place kids see the world," she stated.
Furthermore, there are no legal punishments for children or parents who find a way to access banned platforms. When locked out, teens like Sophia and her friends have simply migrated to other, less-regulated social media sites or used their parents' details to verify their age.
A cat-and-mouse game for digital natives
The situation highlights the challenges of enforcing digital age barriers. An estimated 440,000 Australians aged 13 to 15 used Snapchat before the ban, and many remain determined to stay connected with their peers. Sophia, who successfully claimed to be 16 on Snapchat, immediately texted her friends to share her bypass techniques.
This digital cat-and-mouse game raises significant questions about the effectiveness of blanket bans. As young people quickly adapt to new restrictions, policymakers and tech companies may need to consider more nuanced approaches to online safety and digital literacy.
