Many doubt under-16 social media bans cut online harm

New research from LoopMe suggests many consumers doubt that under-16 social media bans will reduce online harm, even as governments weigh tighter restrictions and Spain announces its own ban.

The study polled 73,841 consumers across Australia, the US and the UK in December 2025. It examined awareness and perceptions of Australia's nationwide under-16 social media ban, which came into force in November 2025, and expectations of similar measures elsewhere.

Across markets, the findings point to a gap between policy intent and public expectations. Many respondents said young people would find ways around restrictions, and relatively few said bans would make online spaces feel safer or more age-appropriate.

Australia's test case

Australia is the only market in the survey where an under-16 ban is already in effect. Even there, confidence in the measure's impact was limited.

Only 6% of Australian respondents said online spaces are now safer and more age-appropriate, while 25% said the ban has been effective at reducing online harm.

The rest were split between those who think it has not worked and those who are unsure: 37% described the ban as ineffective and 37% said they did not know.

Views on circumvention were also common. In Australia, 31% said they believe many young people are already finding ways to bypass the restrictions.

Uncertainty also extended to the ban's impact on exposure to harmful content and misinformation. In Australia, 45% said they were unsure how the ban has affected exposure, while 27% said it has made little difference.

Workarounds expected

In the UK and the US, where policymakers have discussed youth protections and potential restrictions, many respondents predicted that young users would evade any ban.

LoopMe found that 42% of Americans and 40% of Britons expect young people would find workarounds. Those views sat alongside mixed expectations about whether bans would be effective at all.

About half of respondents in both the UK and the US said a ban would be effective. Even so, disagreement was notable: 35% of Americans and 29% of Britons said a ban would not work.

Perceived safety gains were limited in both countries. Only 14% of Americans and 17% of Britons said a ban would make online spaces feel safer and more age-appropriate.

Awareness and support

Awareness of Australia's under-16 ban varied across markets; in Australia, 74% of respondents were aware of the legislation, compared with 51% in the UK and 36% in the US. Support for introducing similar bans also differed between regions; the UK recorded the highest level of approval at 54%, while support stood at 43% in Australia and 40% in the US. Opposition remained substantial across all three nations, ranging from 28% in the UK to 37% in the US.

The results come as online safety remains a live policy issue. Some governments have considered age-based restrictions as part of broader debates on child protection, platform responsibilities and digital harms. Spain's move has added to the international focus on enforceability and what outcomes bans can realistically deliver.

LoopMe said the findings indicate a public appetite for more targeted interventions than blanket restrictions.

"Consumers clearly support levels of protection for young people online, but our research shows real skepticism about whether blanket bans work," said Sarah Tims, AVP Marketing, LoopMe. "Many are unsure the policy is making a meaningful difference, and there's widespread expectation that young users will simply find workarounds. This points to a growing appetite for solutions focused on education, digital resilience, and smarter safeguards, not just prohibition."

LoopMe said the survey was designed to measure awareness, attitudes and perceptions around Australia's policy and the potential impact of similar approaches in other markets.