Australian teens who lost access to social media because of age verification read less news

Australian teenagers who were unable to access social media due to age verification requirements implemented under new legislation showed reduced news consumption compared to their peers. The finding suggests that social media platforms, despite criticisms, serve as a significant news source for young people. This outcome highlights an unintended consequence of age-restriction policies on adolescents' access to current events information.

Source: Jeremy Howard (X) | 2026-05-20