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Australia’s social media ban preventing teens from accessing the news, research finds
TL;DR
A new study reveals Australia's social media ban is limiting news access for teens, with half of those blocked reporting seeing less news. Two-thirds of under-16s remain on social media despite the ban.
Key points
- Australia's social media ban limits news access for teens
- Half of blocked teens report seeing less news
- Two-thirds of under-16s remain on social media
- 26% of teens significantly impacted by the ban
- Study surveyed 1,027 Australians aged 10 to 17
Australia’s social media ban is preventing teens from accessing news, a new study has found, with half of the teens who have been blocked saying they’re seeing less news than before.
Two-thirds of under-16s have remained on social media platforms since the ban came into effect in December. But for those who were kicked off, the change has meant seeing less news than before the ban.
The report, from a research group from 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 between 10 and 17 in February 2026 on the ban and news consumption habits.
The report found that just over a quarter (26%) of this cohort had been significantly impacted by the ban, and just over half of those (51%) were seeing less news than prior to the ban taking effect.
That compares to 12% who were moderately affected, with 34% of those seeing less news, and 61% who reported not being affected, with 22% seeing less news.
Social media was the second most popular method for teens to get news at 39%, behind family at 52%. The study found that teens use social media for news more as they age, with 72% of 16 and 17-year-olds using social media for news, compared to 37% of 10 to 12-year-olds.
Of those who were seeing much less news as a result of the ban, 47% reported losing access to world news and events, 45% said they had lost the opportunity to share views, and 42% said they had lost access to local news.
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The ban doesn’t necessarily mean teens are seeking news from other sources, however, with 39% saying they don’t use any other news sources. Of the teens surveyed, 75% said news organisations have “no idea what their lives are actually like” while 71% say they find it difficult to source news relevant to people their age.
“It’s potentially quite ironic that news organisations advocated for [the social media ban],” said the 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 the research, going back to 2017, has found that young people are more and more getting news on social media over traditional news sources.
Q&A
How has Australia's social media ban affected teen news access?
The ban has led to half of the blocked teens seeing less news than before, according to a recent study.
What percentage of teens reported being significantly impacted by the social media ban?
Just over 26% of surveyed teens reported being significantly impacted by the social media ban.
What are the news consumption habits of teens after the social media ban in Australia?
The study found that over half of the teens affected by the ban are seeing less news than they did prior to the ban.
Which universities conducted the research on teens and news consumption in Australia?
The research was conducted by Western Sydney University, Queensland University of Technology, and the University of Canberra.
