Australia banned some major social media apps from serving kids under the age of 16.

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Australia may have banned social media apps for under-16s, but kids are finding ways around the ban already. Will the government now play Whack-a-Mole with new and smaller social apps?

Australia recently banned social media for kids under the age of 16, so Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick are are all off limits for millions of Australian teens. This is the first major social media ban for kids on the planet. But kids that want their social fix – or their short video hit for the day – are finding alternatives. And it’s not even hard.

According to Apptopia, an app analytics company, here are the top 10 apps by downloads in Australia, on all platforms and in all categories for yesterday:

1. Lemon8 – Lifestyle Community
2. Yope: friends-only pics
3. Australia Post
4. WhatsApp Messenger
5. ChatGPT
6. Meta Horizon
7. Coverstar – Positive Social
8. Shop: All your favorite brands
9. Temu: Shop Like a Billionaire
10. myGov

Five of the top 10 are clearly getting a massive positive boost from the social media ban. The top app, Lemon8, is literally made by the company behind TikTok, a banned app. Lemon8 offers “a lifestyle community focused app powered by TikTok, where you can discover and share authentic content on a variety of topics such as beauty, fashion, travel, food, and more.”

It allows photo editing and sharing, just like Instagram – another banned app – and sounds pretty social.

WhatsApp Messenger is up in downloads as well, and it offers messaging, calling, groups, and video chat. The biggest growth, however, comes from Meta Horizon, which is social gaming app that promises users they can “step into Metaverse where you can play, explore and connect with friends in a variety of community created worlds.”

That also sounds pretty social.

Yope, a “friends-only” photos app, is another Instagram competitor. Coverstar is a social video sharing app, much like TikTok. Again, pretty social.

The upshot is clear: while Australia has banned the big social media networks that get all the press, teens are finding new platforms to replace them. And while Australia promises severe monetary penalties to the big social platforms if they allow teens on them, those big platforms have the resources to be able to monitor and build systems to try to exclude under-16 kids. The smaller platforms wouldn’t have the same resources, if Australia decides to extend the ban to all social apps.

Other big social platforms that are not currently banned include:

• Discord
• Steam and Steam Chat
• Roblox
• Pinterest

Australia is an interesting test case that other countries will be watching closely to see if this in the best interests of children, and whether it makes kids safer. I’ve definitely seen many in favor in other countries.

“Global platforms have become the new, unchosen parents of our children—shaping their identity, their worldview, their values,” says Jamaican technologist Chukwuemeka Cameron on LinkedIn. “All while extracting their data for profit.”

The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Monday called for a halt to all financial settlements for outgoing commissioners of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) until the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) completes its review of pending audit objections.

The recommendation came during a meeting chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, where the panel examined several regulatory and financial matters, including a reported Rs. 7 million Islamabad Club membership payment for Commissioner Abdul Rehman Warriach, whose term is about to end.

Senator Talha Mahmood raised concerns about the payment.

In response, the SECP Chairman confirmed that the Commission had paid the amount but clarified it would be adjusted at the end of the commissioner’s term.

He added that the PAC is set to review an Auditor General’s report on SECP’s 17-month retrospective salary increases in December 2025. Until then, he advised withholding all settlements to avoid complications should recoveries be ordered.

Additionally, the Committee debated the Private Member’s Bill titled “The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” introduced by Senator Anusha Rahman. She highlighted the need to harmonize procedures for determining salaries and benefits among regulators, especially after AGPR flagged the SECP Board’s retrospective salary increases. The bill was postponed to the next meeting to build consensus.

The Committee also reviewed duties on imported mobile phones, with the FBR Chairman noting that 95 percent of Android phones are now assembled locally and that duties are mainly applied to the remaining imported units.

The issue is under examination in the National Assembly, and a detailed report will be presented there and to the Senate panel.

The Committee also commended the Pakistan Single Window initiative for enabling traders and investors to access more than 23 government services through a single digital platform and requested a detailed presentation for the next session.

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance reviewed the tax structure on imported mobile phones after a petition from the FPCCI.

Chairman Federal Board Revenue (FBR) Rashid Mahmood Langrial briefed the committee, stating that 95 percent of mobile phones used in Pakistan are manufactured locally and that taxes apply only to imported devices.

He noted that new iPhone models face taxes of up to Rs. 150,000 and questioned why anyone able to purchase such devices should avoid paying these charges. He stressed that the issue affects only about 5 percent of consumers.

Langrial said a detailed report on imported phone taxation will be submitted to parliament by March and shared with the standing committee. Following his briefing, the committee concluded its discussion on the matter.