A new study indicates Australia’s policy requiring parental consent for social media access for users under 16 is proving largely ineffective. Despite the regulations, underage individuals are circumventing the restrictions through various methods. These include utilizing accounts registered under the names of older family members or friends, creating entirely fabricated online profiles, and employing private browsing modes to mask their activity. The research highlights the challenges of enforcing age verification on social media platforms. Experts suggest the current approach places an undue burden on parents while failing to adequately protect younger users. The findings raise questions about the viability of relying solely on consent-based systems for age restriction online. Further strategies may be needed to address underage social media use.