The Penalty Increase
Australia will double the maximum fine for social media companies that violate its under-16 ban, raising penalties from 49.5 million to 99 million Australian dollars (approximately $31 million to $68 million). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the change on Saturday, saying the new legislation reflects the government's determination to hold Big Tech accountable. Communications Minister Anika Wells added that platforms were "adopting tricks straight out of the Big Tech playbook and doing the bare minimum to get by."
How Children Still Access Social Media
Since the ban took effect on December 10, children have continued to evade the restrictions through multiple methods. They register accounts under older people's names, create fake profiles, or log in through private browsers. A peer-reviewed evaluation published this month in the British Medical Journal found "insufficient evidence" that the ban had sharply reduced social media use among young people, with researchers documenting "substantial circumvention" of the rules after surveying more than 400 children before and three months after the measure took effect.
Expanded Enforcement Powers
The government will grant the eSafety Commissioner stronger powers to force compliance, including the ability to demand documents and evidence from platforms, age-checking companies, and app stores. The regulator is currently investigating possible breaches by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Platforms must demonstrate they have taken "reasonable steps" to keep under-16s out, with some using artificial intelligence to estimate ages while others allow users to verify their age with a government ID.
Global Attention on Australia's Experiment
The ban has made Australia a global test case for countries attempting to curb children's access to social media. The United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand are among those watching or considering similar restrictions. The government said more than five million accounts held by under-16s have been blocked. Communications Minister Anika Wells said platforms were still falling short.
