Australia's social media ban for under-16s reduced usage among minors to 81.5% in March 2026, down from 85.9% before the ban took effect in December 2025. The three-month decline represents a 4.4 percentage point drop.
Australia's online safety regulator reported that the controversial under-16 social media ban produced measurable but limited initial results in its first quarter of enforcement.
The data shows approximately 1 in 5 teens under 16 remained on social media platforms despite the ban. Industry experts attributed the marginal reduction to workarounds including age verification gaps and account sharing among minors.
The ban, implemented in December 2025, faced criticism from tech companies and civil liberties groups before launch. Supporters argued it would protect children from algorithmic harms and mental health risks.
Australia's regulator indicated it would monitor compliance metrics over a longer timeframe, noting that behavioral shifts typically take months to fully materialize. The government has not yet disclosed enforcement action details or penalties applied during the initial rollout period.
Other nations including the UK and Canada are monitoring Australia's implementation for policy guidance on age-restricted social media access.
The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has denied Dutch fintech Bunq's application for a national bank charter, citing insufficient clarity on the company's US expansion strategy.
Restart, a gaming media site launched in late 2024 and sponsored by Walmart, has laid off its entire editorial team. The cuts were announced Friday by former editor-in-chief Brandy Berthelson.
Data center operator Switch has filed confidentially for a US IPO that could launch as soon as November. Venture capitalist Ben Horowitz is joining the company's board.
Akamai's stock declined following its second-quarter earnings report, even as the company exceeded analyst expectations. CEO Tom Leighton discussed the results and company developments on Bloomberg's "The Close."