Alternative communication apps for teens surge in the Australian charts as kids move from banned platforms

Alternative social media platforms have surged to the top of Apple’s App Store as young people flock to apps not currently listed under the eSafety Commissioner’s age-restricted platforms.

This morning, the top three free apps were Lemon8, Yope, and Coverstar — all of which are not included on the restricted list.

Lemon8, owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, which also operates TikTok, is now the number one free app in Australia.

Described as “Instagram meets Pinterest,” it allows users to post photos and videos while saving them to collections similar to Pinterest boards. Instagram is on the restricted list, though Pinterest is not currently part of the ban.

In second place is Yope, a private, friends-only photo sharing platform likened to Snapchat, which is restricted and WhatsApp. Coverstar, promoted as “the safest TikTok alternative for kids nine to 16,” rounds out the top three.

Under the new eSafety rules, any platform that is mainly about sharing pictures and videos still counts as social media and must ban under-16s, regardless of how small or new the app is.

Communications Minister Anika Wells addressed the shift last week, noting authorities are monitoring where young users move online.

“If we find that because they’ve been logged out of Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok (or) what have you, they end up on Lemon8, then we will look at whether the harm has transferred there and whether we need to add them to the list,” Ms Wells said.

“Should any particular platform like Lemon8 … become the new source, I will not hesitate to act.”

These apps are not included in the ban: Discord, GitHub, Google Classroom, LEGO Play, Messenger, Pinterest, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, WhatsApp, YouTube Kids, Lemon8, Yope and Coverstar.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took to social media to kick off the world-first ban, saying “social media can be a bit overwhelming for all of us”.

“For our kids, it can cause real harm.

“That’s why from this week, we’re banning social media accounts for those under 16.

“It will mean more time for children to learn, grow and just be kids, without algorithms getting in the way.”

Year six student Isla Rose told Sunrise on Wednesday morning that the ban felt like a “big change” after using social media consistent as a child.

“To be honest, to be logged out of something I’ve been using consistently for years is just a big change,” she said.

“For the older kids especially, because they’ve been using it for way longer.

Isla expressed concern for more vulnerable children who live in challenging conditions or unstable home, saying social media had become a lifeline for them to escape their families.

The year six Aussie said she understood why politicians were trying to keep kids safe, however, said they were getting it wrong with this ban.

“I see what they’re trying to do, they’re going about it the wrong way,” she told Sunrise.