Australia will double the penalty for breaches of its under-16 social media ban to $99 million, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced, accusing tech companies of not doing enough to keep children off harmful platforms. The eSafety commissioner is investigating potential breaches by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, and will gain stronger information-gathering powers under proposed reforms.
Millions of Accounts Removed, but Children Still Accessing Platforms
Since the ban took effect on 10 December, more than 5 million accounts held by under-16s have been removed, deactivated, or restricted, the government said. However, research indicates that the majority of under-16s are bypassing age restrictions and still accessing social media.
“I’m heartened by the shift in conversation and the global momentum we’ve seen since introducing the social media minimum age,” Albanese said, “but it’s clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law – there are still too many children on social media.”
Penalty Doubled to $99m, Aligning with Consumer Law
The proposed new laws would double the penalty for systematic breaches from $49.5 million to $99 million, bringing it in line with penalties under competition and consumer law. The eSafety commissioner would also gain the power to compel social media companies to provide evidence of actions taken to stop under-16s from opening or using accounts, including from third parties like age assurance or app store providers.
“Australia is leading the world in our efforts to keep kids and young people safe online,” Albanese said. “These changes reflect the seriousness with which we take any failure by social media companies to comply with our world-leading law.”
Global Momentum for Similar Reforms
Since Australia became the first country to legislate a social media ban for under-16s, international momentum has grown. France’s national assembly has passed legislation to prohibit access for children under 15 with parental consent, and the UK government announced plans for an “Australia-plus” ban from 2027. Slovenia, Poland, Spain, Denmark, and Malaysia are also considering similar proposals.
Research Shows Limited Early Impact
Research evaluating the ban’s effectiveness found more than 80% of under-16s were still using social media three months after the legislation came into force. A study of over 400 12- to 17-year-olds by the University of Newcastle, published in the BMJ, concluded there was “limited implementation, incomplete compliance, and substantial circumvention”.
While two-thirds of teenagers reported being asked to complete age verification checks, only 5% of 12- to 13-year-olds and 11% of 14- to 15-year-olds had to provide official ID. About 15% of 12- to 13-year-olds and 19% of 14- to 15-year-olds used fake accounts, and 3% used VPNs.
Government Vows to Hold Big Tech Accountable
Communications Minister Anika Wells said that after six months, she did not believe tech companies were doing everything they could. “Social media platforms are adopting tricks straight out of the big tech playbook and doing the bare minimum to get by,” she said. “In response, I am making sure the regulator has stronger tools to get the job done and doubling the fines for non-compliance.”
