A new study has found that Australia's social media ban is preventing teenagers from accessing news, with half of the teens who have been blocked saying they are seeing less news than before the ban took effect. The research, conducted by a group from Western Sydney University, Queensland University of Technology, and the University of Canberra as part of the longitudinal Young People and News study, surveyed 1,027 Australians aged 10 to 17 in February 2026.
Key Findings on News Consumption
The report revealed that just over a quarter (26%) of the cohort had been significantly impacted by the ban, and just over half of those (51%) were seeing less news than prior to the ban. In comparison, 12% were moderately affected, with 34% of those seeing less news, and 61% reported not being affected, with 22% seeing less news.
Social media was the second most popular method for teens to get news at 39%, behind family at 52%. The study found that teens use social media for news more as they age, with 72% of 16 and 17-year-olds using social media for news, compared to 37% of 10 to 12-year-olds.
Impact of the Ban
Of those who were seeing much less news as a result of the ban, 47% reported losing access to world news and events, 45% said they had lost the opportunity to share views, and 42% said they had lost access to local news. However, the ban does not necessarily mean teens are seeking news from other sources, with 39% saying they do not use any other news sources.
Of the teens surveyed, 75% said news organisations have "no idea what their lives are actually like," while 71% said they find it difficult to source news relevant to people their age.
Expert Commentary
Lead researcher Prof Tanya Notley from Western Sydney University's School of Arts and Institute for Culture and Society said, "It's potentially quite ironic that news organisations advocated for [the social media ban]. One of the unintended consequences is that young people are getting less news – I think there is perhaps a belief that young people will go back to traditional news sources."
She noted that the research, going back to 2017, has found that young people are increasingly getting news on social media over traditional news sources. "It is a real worry that this might just have a longer term consequence of young people no longer being in the habit or the practice of getting news," she added.
Notley suggested that the government should fund and support news from organisations that cater to young people, such as Squiz Kids, and that news literacy should be taught in classrooms.
Teen Perspectives on the Ban
Of the teens surveyed, 46% of 16 to 17-year-olds, 45% of 13 to 15-year-olds, and 34% of 10 to 12-year-olds said they had mixed feelings about the social media ban. Those aged 13-15, who could have had social media accounts prior to 10 December but are now banned, were the cohort most likely to oppose the ban at 29%.
Government Actions
The federal government announced in March that the eSafety commissioner was investigating Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube over compliance with the ban. This move would be the first stage in potentially seeking fines from companies in the federal court of up to $49.5 million per breach of the social media ban.
Two high court challenges to the ban have yet to be heard. The Albanese government has claimed that 4.7 million under-16s social media accounts have been deactivated, removed, or restricted since 10 December. The communications minister, Anika Wells, refused a request from independent senator Fatima Payman for documents outlining the government's process to verify this figure. In a letter to the Senate tabled last week, Wells said releasing related documents "could prejudice the eSafety commissioner's ability to effectively engage in compliance and enforcement activities."
