Australia has doubled the maximum fine for platforms that violate its world-first social media ban for children under 16. The government announced that penalties will increase from AU$49.5 million to AU$99 million (about US$68 million) as enforcement becomes more stringent.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government believes major tech companies still are not doing enough to follow the rules. “These changes show just how seriously we take it when social media companies fail to comply with our world-leading law,” he said.
The government is introducing more than just higher penalties. Under the new measures, eSafety Commissioner Julie Grant will have broader powers to require social media companies to show how they prevent users under 16 from creating accounts. The online safety regulator will also be able to obtain compliance information from third parties, including age verification providers and app stores.
The eSafety Commissioner’s office confirmed it is actively investigating possible breaches by several major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
According to the government, more than five million accounts belonging to users under 16 have been removed, deactivated, or restricted since the ban took effect in December. At the same time, recent studies indicate that many young people continue to access social media. An April survey by the Molly Rose Foundation found that 61 percent of more than 1,000 children aged 12 to 15 still had access to these platforms. Another study from the University of Newcastle estimated that more than 85 percent of Australian teens under 16 remain active on social media apps.
The announcement indicates that the government doesn’t view those results as sufficient. Instead, it is combining higher penalties with broader investigative powers to strengthen enforcement and improve compliance.
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