Australia’s new rule barring users under 16 from major social‑media apps has sparked debate about its effect on the App Store’s in‑app purchase revenue. Analysts weigh the potential hit against a backdrop of rising mobile spend, with 2025 seeing non‑game apps outpace games for the first time in 2025.

Sensor Tower’s 2026 State of Mobile report notes that global in‑app revenue climbed 16 % last year, reaching nearly $5 billion from social‑media alone. TikTok and Snapchat skew younger, while Meta’s platforms attract older users, meaning the ban’s impact will vary across the sector in the global market in 2026 report analysis.

Brinksman, the report’s lead author, argues that under‑16 users represent a small slice of total spend, and their purchasing power is lower than older cohorts. Even with stricter age limits, the overall momentum of social‑media monetization could outweigh the regulatory drag for investors and platforms in 2026 and beyond.

Investors should monitor how the bans affect user growth and spend patterns, especially on TikTok and Snapchat, where younger demographics dominate. Regulators in the U.K. are still debating similar limits, so any policy shift could ripple across the global app economy, prompting adjustments in monetization strategies for platforms in 2026.