The Australian government has announced it will double the maximum penalty for social media platforms found in breach of the nation’s minimum age laws to $99m (£51.7m).
As part of the updated legislation, the eSafety Commissioner, the nation’s independent regulator, will be granted powers to compel social media companies to provide evidence regarding the specific steps taken to comply with the ban.
The government stated that these harsher penalties are evidence that it is “doubling down on platforms that are not doing enough”.
The social media ban, which prevents children under the age of 16 from using 10 key platforms, has been in effect since 10 December 2025.
Despite the legislation, it has been widely acknowledged that many children still access banned applications. A report from the eSafety Commission found that seven out of 10 children under 16 who held accounts before the ban still maintain “some access”.
Investigations have already been launched into the alleged non-compliance of five major platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, reports BBC.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked that while he is heartened by the global momentum following the introduction of the age limit, “it’s clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law”. He added that there are still “too many children on social media”.
The Minister for Communications, Anika Wells, echoed these sentiments, stating she was “not satisfied” that tech firms are doing everything possible to protect children. She accused platforms of “adopting tricks straight out of the big tech playbook” and doing the “bare minimum to get by”.
Australia’s move comes as other countries, including the United Kingdom, indicate they will follow with similar legislation. In June 2026, UK former prime minister Keir Starmer announced plans to introduce a ban for children under 16 by spring 2027.
The proposed British legislation is expected to cover platforms that enable social interaction and user posts, with additional measures such as overnight curfews and restrictions on “infinite scrolling” for those under 18 also under consideration.
