Overview
- The Australian Institute of Criminology interviewed 46 people now aged 18–21 about underage use of adult-based services, with many meeting matches offline for sex, alcohol or drugs.
- Participants reported 10 instances of alcohol use, five of drug use and one burglary linked to app meet-ups, and at least one described being paid for sex by an adult.
- Age checks were routinely bypassed with fake birthdays or IDs, echoing prior AIC findings that about one in 10 dating-app users had used them while underage.
- From 10 December, under‑16s will be barred from major social platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, X, Kick and Reddit, but dating apps remain outside the ban.
- AIC leaders say risky conduct often shifts off-platform, and researchers recommend further study and potential regulation for 18+ services.