Australia teen social media ban fails to shift behavior as bullying rises

Habits barely changed, but cyberbullying spiked fast

Australia’s new law blocking social media access for under-16s hasn’t produced a noticeable change in user behavior, according to government reporting. Major platforms remain dominant in app rankings, while cyberbullying has increased, with TikTok frequently linked to incidents. Other countries are closely watching Australia’s results as they consider similar steps.