Australia’s social media ban cuts teens’ news access, study finds

Australia’s social media ban is preventing teens from accessing news, a new study found, with half of blocked teenagers reporting they see less news than before.

Two-thirds of under-16s have remained on social media platforms since the ban took effect in December. But those removed see significantly less news than previously.

The report, from researchers at Western Sydney University, Queensland University of Technology and the University of Canberra who lead the longitudinal Young People and News study, surveyed 1,027 Australians aged 10 to 17 in February 2026 on the ban and news consumption habits.

The report found just over a quarter (26%) of this cohort had been significantly impacted by the ban, and just over half of those (51%) said they see less news than before the ban took effect.

That contrasts with 12% who were moderately affected, with 34% of those seeing less news, and 61% who reported no impact, with 22% seeing less news.

Social media was the second most popular news source for teens at 39%, behind family at 52%. The study found teens increasingly use social media for news as they age, with 72% of 16- and 17-year-olds doing so, compared with 37% of 10- to 12-year-olds.

Among those seeing much less news due to the ban, 47% reported losing access to world news and events, 45% said they lost the opportunity to share views, and 42% cited lost access to local news.

The ban does not necessarily drive teens to other news sources; 39% said they use no other news sources. Of the teens surveyed, 75% said news organizations “have no idea what their lives are actually like,” while 71% said they find it difficult to find news relevant to their age group.

“It’s potentially quite ironic that news organisations advocated for [the social media ban],” said lead researcher Prof. Tanya Notley from Western Sydney University’s School of Arts and Institute for Culture and Society.

“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 said research since 2017 shows young people increasingly turn to social media rather than traditional news outlets.

“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.”

Notley said the government should fund and support news from organizations that cater to young people, such as Squiz Kids, and that news literacy should be taught in classrooms.

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 before Dec. 10 but are now banned, were the most likely to oppose the ban at 29%.

The federal government announced in March that the eSafety commissioner is investigating Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube over compliance. The move could lead to fines of up to $49.5 million per breach in federal court.

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 Dec. 10. Communications Minister Anika Wells refused a request from independent Senator Fatima Payman for documents verifying that figure.

In a letter to the Senate tabled last week, Wells said releasing related documents “could prejudice the eSafety’s commissioner’s ability to effectively engage in compliance and enforcement activities.”