Laura McVey

Australia’s social media minimum age (SMMA) legislation restricts people in Australia under 16 years from holding accounts on specified social media platforms. As the SMMA legislation aims to protect children and adolescents from online risks that can harm their health and wellbeing, it is important to investigate their plans to comply with or circumvent the restrictions. Prior to the new law coming to effect, the AIC conducted two separate surveys: a school-based survey of young people aged 11–15 years, and panel survey of adult parents.

One in five (21.6%) respondents from the school-based survey said they would try to use the restricted social media platforms, and even more said they thought other young people would try to use them (60.5%). Young men and respondents who spent more time spent on social media per day were more likely to say they planned to use restricted platforms. When asked how they planned to access restricted platforms, these respondents most commonly said they would use a fake age (39.0%), or ask an older person to help them set up a profile (32.5%).

Nearly one in five (18.0%) respondents from the parent survey said they would help their child circumvent the legislation by helping them set up a profile on a restricted platform. This was more common among parents who were men (22.2%), aged 18-34 (31.7%), LGB+ (25.8%), had been a victim of cybercrime (23.5%) or whose child had been a victim of online sexual exploitation or bullying (27.7%), and who used tech-based parental controls (20.9%). While the motivation of some parents may be to help protect their children by controlling their use of restricted platforms, findings highlight priority areas for targeted education.