Australia to double fines for under-16 social media ban violations
Synopsis
Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s is struggling to bite — a University of Newcastle study found more than 85% of affected minors still online three months after the law kicked in. Now Prime Minister Albanese is doubling the maximum fine to A$99 million and arming the eSafety Commissioner with stronger enforcement powers, in a direct challenge to Big Tech's compliance record.
Key Takeaways
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on 28 June 2025 that Australia will seek to double the maximum fine for social media platforms violating the under-16 ban, from A$49.5 million to A$99 million (approx.
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 came into effect in December 2025 , covering platforms including TikTok , X , Facebook , Instagram , YouTube , and Snapchat .
A University of Newcastle study of 408 adolescents found more than 85% of under-16s were still using restricted platforms three months after the law took effect.
Around two-thirds of minors surveyed said they encountered age verification, most commonly self-declared age or photo-based checks.
The proposed legislation also grants the eSafety Commissioner stronger powers to demand compliance evidence from platforms.
The government aims to pass the changes before parliament's winter break beginning Thursday .
The Australian government has announced plans to double the maximum penalty for technology companies that fail to enforce the country's ban on social media use by children under 16, with the fine set to rise from A$49.5 million to A$99 million (approximately USD 68.3 million). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the move in a statement on Saturday, 28 June 2025, saying tech platforms are not doing enough to comply with the landmark law.
What the Government Has Proposed
Albanese said the government will introduce legislation to the federal parliament that doubles the maximum civil penalty for non-compliant social media platforms. The proposed changes would also grant the government's eSafety Commissioner stronger powers to compel platforms to produce evidence of the steps they are taking to block underage users.
'There are still too many children on social media,' Albanese said. 'These changes reflect the seriousness with which we take any failure by social media companies to comply with our world-leading law.'
According to reports, the government intends to legislate the changes before the federal parliament's annual winter break, which begins on Thursday.
The Law and Its Limited Early Impact
Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 came into effect in December 2025, making the country the first in the world to impose a statutory minimum age of 16 for social media use. Major platforms — including TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat — are required to take reasonable steps to block underage account holders.
However, a study published on Thursday in the British Medical Journal by researchers at Australia's University of Newcastle (UON) found the law's early impact has been limited. The UON-led study tracked 408 adolescents aged 12 to 17 before and three months after the law took effect, and found that more than 85 per cent of children under 16 reported still using social media on restricted platforms.
How Children Are Bypassing the Ban
Researchers found that minors are accessing platforms through their own accounts, as well as through alternative or shared accounts. Around two-thirds of respondents reported encountering age verification measures — most commonly self-declared age checks or photo-based verification — suggesting that current enforcement mechanisms are relatively easy to circumvent.
This comes amid growing global debate about the effectiveness of age-gating on social media, with regulators in several countries watching Australia's experiment closely as a potential legislative model.
What Happens Next
The proposed legislation is expected to be tabled in parliament before the winter recess. If passed, platforms that fail to prevent under-16s from accessing their services could face fines nearly double the current ceiling. The strengthened powers for the eSafety Commissioner would also mark a significant escalation in the government's enforcement toolkit, shifting the burden of proof more firmly onto the platforms themselves.
Point of View
The problem is not the penalty ceiling but the absence of robust age verification technology and platform accountability. Harsher fines without a credible audit mechanism simply raise the stakes without changing the outcome. The real test will be whether the eSafety Commissioner's new evidence-gathering powers translate into actual enforcement actions against named platforms — or remain another compliance checkbox that Big Tech can manage with paperwork.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Australia's under-16 social media ban?
Australia's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 came into effect in December 2025, requiring major social media platforms — including TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat — to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from creating or using accounts. It is the first law of its kind in the world.
Why is Australia doubling the fine for social media companies?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the move on 28 June 2025, citing evidence that technology companies are not doing enough to comply with the ban. A University of Newcastle study found more than 85% of under-16s were still using restricted platforms three months after the law took effect, prompting the government to escalate penalties.
What will the new maximum fine be?
The proposed legislation would raise the maximum civil penalty for non-compliant social media companies from A$49.5 million to A$99 million, equivalent to approximately USD 68.3 million.
How are children getting around the social media age ban?
According to the University of Newcastle study, minors are accessing platforms through their own accounts as well as alternative or shared accounts. Around two-thirds reported encountering age verification measures, most commonly self-declared age or photo-based checks, which appear relatively easy to bypass.
What additional powers will the eSafety Commissioner receive?
Under the proposed changes, the eSafety Commissioner would gain stronger authority to compel social media companies to provide evidence of the specific measures they are taking to prevent under-16s from using their platforms, shifting the compliance burden more firmly onto the companies themselves.
