Australia doubles potential fines for tech firms over under-16 social media ban failures

Australia’s six-month-old ban is being closely watched by many nations seeking to emulate it due to concerns about the impact of social media on youth mental and physical ​health.

Social media companies can face double the fines if they fail to comply.

Australia moves to double fines for social media platforms after seven in 10 children remained active on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok three months after the world-first ban on under-16s took effect — with Big Tech accused of "taking the Mickey."

Six months after Australia became the first country to bar under-16s from social media, the government has concluded that the platforms are not taking the rule seriously enough, and is preparing to make the consequences of ignoring it considerably more expensive. New legislation announced this week would roughly double the maximum penalty for a systemic […] This story continues at The Next Web

Australia plans to double potential fines for social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, who fail to prevent Australian children from holding accounts.

Australia plans to double potential fines for social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, who fail to prevent Australian children from holding accounts as critics argue the world-first ban on under-16s was failing.

Under the changes, the maximum penalty for systematic failures to uphold the ban jumps ‌to A$99 million ($68 million) from A$49.5 million

Under Australia's changes, the maximum penalty for systematic failures to uphold the ban jumps to A$99 million, or about $68 million, from A$49.5 million

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia plans to double potential fines for social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, who fail to prevent Australian children from holding accounts as critics argue the world-first ban on under-16s was failing. Communications Minister Anika Wells on Monday blamed the platforms’ resistance to the age restrictions for the need to toughen the laws that came into force on Dec. 10. “We can all agree we would like the scheme to work better than it is currently, but that is on Big Tech taking the Mickey,” Wells told the Australian Broadcasting Corp., using an Australian slang term for deceiving, teasing or mocking. The government announced Sunday it would introduce draft legislation into Parliament this week that would double the maximum fine to 99 million Australian dollars ($68 million) for platforms that fail to take reasons steps to prevent Australian children from holding accounts. The amendments would also increase the powers of eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s online safety watchdog, to demand information and documents

Australia plans to double potential fines for social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, who fail to prevent Australian children from holding accounts

Australia plans to double potential fines for social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, who fail to prevent Australian children from holding accounts

Australia accuses major social media firms of not doing enough Teens easily circumventing age-assurance measures put in place Maximum penalty for not upholding the ban doubled to $68 million Planned update to law also strengthens regulator’s information-gathering powers SYDNEY —  Australia said on Saturday it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found […] The post Australia toughens kids’ social media ban, doubles potential penalties for tech firms appeared first on Interaksyon.

Australia has said it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms that ⁠fail to uphold a ground-breaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use.

Tech giants caught flouting Australia's under-16 social media ban could soon face double the fines.

Tech giants caught flouting Australia's under-16 social media ban could soon face double the fines.

Tech giants caught flouting Australia's under-16 social media ban could soon face double the fines.

The government will also strengthen the information-gathering powers of its internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, allowing it to compel social media companies to provide evidence of what they have done to stop under-16s from getting an account

Australia to double maximum penalty for platforms in breach of social media ban  BBCAustralia to double penalty for social media ban breaches to $99m as tech giants accused of ‘not doing enough’  The GuardianEighty per cent of Australian children escape social media ban  The TelegraphAustralia toughens kids' social media ban, doubles potential penalties for tech firms  Reuters'Worrying' study shows Australia's social media ban has made no 'meaningful difference' to teenagers  Sky News

Children under the age of 16 have been prevented from 10 key social media platforms in Australia since December 2025.

Australia to double fines on Big Tech as children bypass social media ban  Al JazeeraAustralia to double maximum penalty for platforms in breach of social media ban  BBC‘Enforcement mode’: Australia must take fight to tech giants to make social media ban stick, experts warn  The GuardianEighty per cent of Australian children escape social media ban  The TelegraphAustralia to double social media ban fines for tech firms  RTE.ie

Canberra says tech platforms are still letting too many children bypass its under-16 social media ban.

“It’s clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law — there are still too many children on social media.”

Australia will double the financial penalty on platforms flouting its world-leading social media ban for under-16s to stem widespread evasion of the restrictions, the government said on Saturday. New legislation will lift the maximum fine to Aus$99 million ($68 million) for systemic breaches of the regulation and arm the eSafety online watchdog with greater powers to curb the platforms, it said. The independent regulator was “actively investigating” potential non-compliance by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, the government said in a statement. “It’s clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law — there are still too many children on social media,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. “These changes reflect the seriousness with which we take any failure by social media companies to comply.” Underage users have been dodging the restrictions by using accounts registered to older people, setting up fake accounts, or by logging into private browsers. The success of the Australian restriction is of intense interest to a growing number of nations that have introduced or are mulling similar bans — including Britain, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand. One of the first peer-reviewed evaluations of the Australian measure, published this month in the British Medical Journal, found “insufficient evidence” that it had much impact on social media use by youngsters. The researchers surveyed more than 400 young people immediately before the restrictions came into effect, and again three months after, finding “substantial circumvention” of the rules. There was little change for users aged 12-13, a slight decrease for the 14-15 age group and an increase in use for those aged 16 and older. ‘Bare minimum’ The government says it is clear the regulator needs more powers even though more than five million accounts held by under-16s have been blocked since the ban came into force on December 10. Under the new laws, the eSafety Commissioner will be able to compel social media companies to provide evidence of what they have done to prevent under-16s from getting an account. It will be empowered to demand information and documents from the social media companies and also from third parties such as age assurance or app store providers to help it check the platforms’ claims. Communications Minister Anika Wells said she was not satisfied the platforms were doing enough. “Based on the regular updates I receive from the eSafety Commissioner, it is clear to me that social media platforms are adopting tricks straight out of the big tech playbook and doing the bare minimum to get by,” Wells said. “Social media platforms are some of the richest and most powerful companies in the world, and we’re serious about holding them to account,” she said. “These tough new penalties and powers show we will not back down. Instead, we are doubling down on our efforts to hold big tech to account.” A growing body of research suggests too much time online is taking a toll on teen well-being, and Australia’s ban has been hailed as a godsend for parents sick of seeing children glued to their phones. Although platforms have pledged to abide by the laws, they have warned the measures could instead push teenagers into dark, unregulated corners of the internet. Social media companies bear sole responsibility for checking that Australia-based users are 16 or older, and must prove they have taken “reasonable steps” to weed out young teenagers. Some platforms are using AI tools to estimate ages based on photos, while users can also choose to prove their age by uploading a government ID.

Government says eSafety is probing Meta, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok over possible non-compliance

Australia is doubling fines for tech giants failing to keep under-16s off social media, with penalties now reaching A$99 million. This move follows reports of teenagers easily bypassing age restrictions. The government is also empowering its internet regulator to demand internal evidence of compliance. Despite blocking millions of underage accounts, a significant majority of teens remain active online, highlighting the ineffectiveness of current age verification methods.

Australia said on Saturday it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a groundbreaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use. The government will also strengthen the information-gathering powers of its internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, allowing it to compel social media companies ‌to provide evidence of what they have done to stop under-16s from getting an account. Under the...

Australia said on Saturday it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a ground-breaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use. The government will also strengthen the information-gathering powers of its internet regulator, the […]

Saying tech companies were “not doing enough” to keep youths under 16 off their platforms, the government announced tougher fines and new powers for a regulator.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese says too many children still on platforms but he is ‘heartened’ by world-leading lawSocial media bans go global: big tech faces a reckoning after Australia’s crackdownGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government will double the penalty for breaches of Australia’s youth social media ban to $99m, arguing tech companies are “not doing enough” to keep children off harmful social media sites.And the eSafety commissioner, now investigating potential breaches of the law by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, will have its information-gathering powers strengthened under proposed further reforms. Continue reading...