Australia Doubles Fines Over Under-16 Social Media Ban

Australia Doubles Fines on Big Tech as Under-16 Social Media Ban Faces Major Test

• Big Tech Faces $99 Million Penalties Under Tough New Australian Law
• Australia Cracks Down on Social Media Platforms as Kids Bypass Age Ban
• Meta, TikTok, YouTube Under Pressure as Australia Tightens Online Safety Rules
• Australia Says Big Tech Isn’t Doing Enough to Protect Children Online
• Tech Giants Could Face Massive Fines as Australia Strengthens Social Media Ban
• Australia’s Toughest-Ever Social Media Crackdown Targets Big Tech Over Child Safety

Australia is escalating its fight against Big Tech, announcing plans to double financial penalties for social media companies that fail to stop children under 16 from accessing their platforms.

Under proposed changes, the maximum fine for systemic breaches will increase from A$49.5 million to A$99 million (about US$68 million), making it one of the toughest online safety enforcement regimes in the world. The move comes after the government accused major technology companies of doing “the bare minimum” to enforce Australia’s landmark youth social media ban.

Government Says Tech Platforms Are Falling Short

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said too many children are still accessing social media despite the country’s world-first law, which prohibits users under the age of 16 from holding accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube.

According to the government, more than five million underage accounts have already been removed, deactivated, or restricted since the law took effect in December 2025. However, officials say widespread circumvention continues, prompting tougher enforcement measures.

Children Are Still Finding Ways Around the Ban

Recent research suggests the legislation has not been as effective as policymakers had hoped. Studies indicate that more than 80% of Australian teenagers under 16 continue using social media by creating fake accounts, borrowing adult accounts, or bypassing age verification through private browsing tools and VPNs.

The findings have intensified pressure on technology companies to deploy stronger age-verification systems instead of relying on simple self-declared birth dates.

Regulator Gets Stronger Powers

Beyond increasing financial penalties, Australia’s proposed reforms would significantly expand the authority of the country’s eSafety Commissioner.

The regulator would gain new powers to compel social media companies to provide evidence showing how they are preventing underage users from creating accounts. Authorities could also demand information from third parties, including app stores and age-verification providers, to independently verify compliance claims.

Several major platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok—are already under investigation over possible failures to comply with the law.

A Global Test Case for Online Child Safety

Australia’s under-16 social media ban has attracted worldwide attention, with governments across Europe, Asia, and beyond closely monitoring its effectiveness.

Countries including the United Kingdom, France, Indonesia, New Zealand, and others are considering similar restrictions as concerns grow over the impact of social media on children’s mental health, privacy, online safety, and digital wellbeing.

What It Means for Big Tech

The tougher penalties send a clear message that governments are becoming less willing to rely on voluntary safety measures from major technology companies.

If the legislation is approved, platforms that fail to keep underage users off their services could face some of the largest regulatory fines imposed for child online safety, potentially reshaping how age verification and online identity checks are implemented worldwide.