Australia doubles fines for social media firms over under-16 ban
Australia doubles fines for social media firms over under-16 ban, raising the cap to A$99m and giving the eSafety Commissioner power to demand evidence.
Government raises maximum penalty to A$99 million
Australia announced a major increase to penalties for social media companies that fail to enforce the country’s under-16 social media ban, doubling the maximum fine from A$49.5 million to A$99 million. The government said new legislation, unveiled on June 27, 2026, will also strengthen the eSafety Commissioner’s enforcement powers to compel documents and evidence from platforms and related service providers. Officials framed the move as a response to what they describe as insufficient compliance by major technology firms and a need to deter systemic breaches.
eSafety Commissioner granted broader investigatory tools
Under the proposed rules, the eSafety Commissioner would gain explicit authority to demand records from age‑verification firms, app stores and social platforms, and to require proof that companies have taken “reasonable steps” to prevent under‑16s accessing their services. Regulators will be able to pursue higher penalties where non‑compliance is found to be systemic rather than isolated. The government said these measures are intended to close loopholes and speed enforcement where platforms have previously resisted or delayed producing information.
Government accuses Big Tech of evasion and minimal effort
Senior ministers have accused major platforms of doing the bare minimum to comply, saying tactics used by companies have allowed minors to remain active on services despite the ban. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells signalled frustration with what they described as “playbook” behaviour from tech companies that prioritise user growth over regulatory obligations. The government has opened investigations into Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, citing persistent evidence of under‑16 accounts.
Regulator statistics and company measures
Officials reported that more than five million accounts believed to belong to under‑16s have been blocked since the measure came into force on December 10, 2025. Platforms have rolled out a mix of age‑estimation technologies and voluntary ID checks, and some permit age verification through government‑issued identity documents. The legislation will require firms to demonstrate the effectiveness of those systems and to show they have taken reasonable, practical steps to prevent evasion.
Researchers find widespread circumvention after rollout
A peer‑reviewed evaluation published this month in the British Medical Journal found limited evidence that the ban dramatically reduced social media use among young people. Researchers who surveyed more than 400 children before the policy took effect and again three months later reported “substantial circumvention” of the rules, with many young users accessing platforms via accounts registered to older relatives or through fake profiles. The study said the short follow‑up period and adaptive behaviours by minors meant measurable declines in use were not evident in the early months.
Methods children use to bypass restrictions
Investigators and academic authors outlined several common workarounds: logging in on private browsers, using friends’ or family members’ credentials, and creating accounts that misrepresent age. Industry observers warn that no technological fix is foolproof and that adversarial actors often exploit small verification gaps. Platforms’ reliance on artificial intelligence to estimate ages introduces margin for error, and identity checks using official documents raise privacy and operational questions that policymakers are still grappling with.
International scrutiny and policy ripple effects
Australia’s under‑16 social media ban has drawn attention from regulators and lawmakers overseas, with the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand among jurisdictions monitoring results or considering similar approaches. Policymakers abroad are watching whether tougher penalties and enhanced enforcement powers will prompt platforms to invest more heavily in reliable age‑verification systems. The Australian experiment is widely seen as a test case for balancing child safety, privacy protections and the technical feasibility of enforcing age limits online.
The government said the legislative changes aim to send a clear signal to the technology sector that stronger action will follow repeated failures to protect children. Platforms now face a sharper choice: intensify compliance efforts and invest in robust age‑checking, or risk larger penalties and tougher regulatory oversight.