June 25, 2026, 3:33 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
The plan was to end Instagram, TikTok, and similar platforms for everyone under 16. Australia introduced one of the world’s strictest social network laws at the end of 2025. Platforms must prevent minors from creating accounts–otherwise, they face hefty fines. But just a few months later, it’s clear: Many teenagers have already found ways to bypass age checks. Some methods are surprisingly simple, while others seem almost absurd.
The classic trick is also the simplest: Instead of using their real birthdate, users enter a different year when signing up. By making themselves a few years older, many can easily proceed on various platforms. This isn’t really surprising–after all, some services still rely on users’ self-reported information.
When Makeup and Fake Beards Help
Things get more interesting where platforms estimate age using facial recognition or AI. Users must take a selfie, which is then analyzed. But even this technology isn’t an insurmountable barrier. Australian teenagers report experimenting with makeup, fake beards, or other disguises to appear older.
According to the “Tagesschau,” a student even showed the Australian broadcaster ABC that he could trick the age verification with a photo of Michael Jackson. The system apparently accepted the image as a sufficiently adult face. Other minors reportedly used photos of their parents or older siblings to deceive the AI.
VPNs are also used, but according to recent studies, they play a significantly smaller role in bypassing age checks than false age entries or manipulated facial scans.
Discord Now Verifies Users’ Ages
Reddit Requires Verification for Suspicious Activity
Not Every Platform Checks Equally Strictly
Not every trick works all the time, and not every platform uses the same verification methods. This is precisely what makes the problem so significant. While some providers have now implemented stricter controls, others still allow relatively simple methods to suffice.
Also of interest: Austria plans social media ban for children
The limited impact of the law so far is also confirmed by a recent study from the University of Newcastle. Researchers found that more than 80 percent of those under 16 continue to use social networks despite the ban. There has been no significant decline yet.
Australia as a Test Lab
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the law has failed. Instead, it highlights a fundamental problem with digital age checks: As long as platforms lack a truly reliable way to determine users’ ages, many restrictions remain vulnerable. The more creative the controls become, the more creative the teenagers get.
This is particularly critical for Australia. The country is seen as a guinea pig for stricter internet regulations. Many governments are closely watching to see if the model works. The first few months, however, mainly reveal one insight: Teenagers are often far more resourceful than lawmakers and tech companies expected.