Australia will increase the fines for platforms that violate its pioneering social media restrictions targeting users under 16, aiming to prevent widespread circumvention, the government announced Saturday.
The updated legislation will raise the maximum penalty to AU$99 million (approximately $68 million) for repeated violations and grant the eSafety online watchdog enhanced authority to enforce compliance. The independent regulator is currently investigating potential violations by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, according to an official statement.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized that big technology companies are not doing enough to adhere to the law: “There are still too many children on social media, and it’s clear that more action is needed.” He added that these legal changes demonstrate the government’s commitment to holding social media companies accountable for their compliance.
Many under-16s are sidestepping restrictions by using accounts registered to older individuals, creating fake profiles, or logging through private browsers. The Australian enforcement efforts are closely watched by other nations considering similar bans, including Britain, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand.
A recent peer-reviewed study in the British Medical Journal assessed the impact of Australia’s social media restrictions and found “insufficient evidence” that the measures significantly changed youth behavior on these platforms. The research involved surveying over 400 young people before and three months after the ban’s implementation, uncovering notable circumvention activities. Usage among 12-13-year-olds remained unchanged, with a slight drop in 14-15-year-olds, while those aged 16 and older showed increased activity.
Despite over five million under-16 accounts being blocked since the ban started on December 10, the government believes the current powers for regulation are inadequate. The new laws will empower the eSafety Commissioner to compel social media firms to provide evidence of their efforts to exclude minors, request information and documents from these companies and third-party services like age verification providers and app stores.
Communications Minister Anika Wells expressed dissatisfaction with platform compliance: “Based on updates from the eSafety Commissioner, it’s evident that social media companies are employing tricks straight out of the big tech playbook and doing the bare minimum.” She reaffirmed the government’s resolve: “These new penalties and powers show we’re not backing down — we’re intensifying our efforts to hold big tech accountable.”
Research increasingly links excessive online activity to declining teen well-being, and Australia’s age restrictions have been praised as a boon for parents tired of kids glued to their screens. While platforms have committed to following the law, there are concerns that such measures may push teenagers into unregulated parts of the internet.
Platforms are responsible for verifying that users in Australia are at least 16, and they must demonstrate they are taking “reasonable steps” to prevent underage access. Some are using AI to estimate age from photos, and users can upload government IDs as proof.