Australia doubles fines for under-16 social media ban as kids evade restrictions

Australia will double the maximum penalty for social media platforms that fail to prevent under-16s from holding accounts to A$99 million (US$68 million), the government announced on June 28. The move comes six months after the world-first ban took effect, amid mounting evidence that most children are still accessing banned platforms.

Tougher penalties

Under the new legislation, the maximum fine for systematic breaches rises from A$49.5 million. The eSafety Commissioner will also gain stronger information-gathering powers, including the ability to demand internal documents from platforms and third-party age-verification providers. "It's clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Source: BBC. Communications Minister Anika Wells blamed platforms for "taking the Mickey" Source: AP News.

Enforcement challenges

Despite the government reporting that more than 5 million accounts have been removed, deactivated, or restricted since December, studies show limited real-world impact. The eSafety Commissioner found in March that seven in 10 children who held accounts before the ban remained active on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok Source: NPR. A University of Newcastle study indicated over 80% of under-16s were still using social media three months after the ban Source: The Guardian. The regulator is actively investigating potential non-compliance by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube Source: Engadget. Opposition lawmakers called the original legislation "undercooked" Source: CNA.