Australian teenagers are rapidly shifting away from major social media platforms and moving toward lesser-known apps as the nation prepares to introduce its landmark social media age ban, which comes into effect in 10 days.
Apps such as Yope and Lemon8 have seen a surge in downloads as under-16s attempt to establish new online spaces ahead of the December 10 deadline.
However, under the incoming eSafety regulations, any platform primarily used for sharing posts, photos or videos is classified as social media and must block users under 16, regardless of the app’s size or recent emergence.
The approaching ban has heightened concerns about age verification requirements, with every platform now obligated to accurately distinguish between children and adults.
Experts are warning families to prepare for a rise in scams, with cybercriminals expected to imitate legitimate “prove your age” prompts to take advantage of the confusion.
Families may encounter fraudulent texts, emails and pop-up messages designed to steal identification, login details and other personal information.
7NEWS Tech Editor Shaun White said the shift in app usage has already become evident in recent days, as teenagers brace for the unprecedented restrictions.
Heightening the pressure, Meta has confirmed it will begin early implementation on Thursday, shutting down Instagram, Facebook and Threads accounts belonging to users under 16.
Psychologists are advising parents to anticipate potential resistance from their children, cautioning that teenagers may experience heightened stress, anxiety or anger as they lose access to familiar digital communities.
Australia’s social media age ban is considered one of the world’s most stringent online child-protection measures, positioning the nation at the forefront of efforts to restrict minors’ access to major platforms.
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