World · Singapore Bureau
Australian teens find ways around world's first TikTok age ban
Fresh data reveals young users in Australia are circumventing the country's landmark social media restrictions through VPNs and other workarounds, raising questions about the effectiveness of the sweeping legislation.
LSN Singapore ·
Australia's prohibition on TikTok for users under 16 has failed to prevent teenagers from accessing the platform, with emerging evidence showing significant numbers continuing to use the app through technical workarounds.
The world's first nationwide age-based ban on the Chinese-owned video platform took effect in November 2024, making it illegal for TikTok to provide services to minors. However, data tracking usage patterns indicate substantial teen engagement persists, with many young users employing virtual private networks and other circumvention methods to bypass the restrictions.
The findings highlight ongoing challenges in enforcing digital age controls across the Asia-Pacific region. Technology experts suggest that relying solely on platform-based age verification and legal penalties has proven insufficient to prevent determined users from accessing restricted services.
Regulators in Australia have indicated they will monitor compliance closely, though enforcement against individual users remains unclear. The development carries implications for other governments in Southeast Asia and beyond considering similar age restrictions on social media platforms.