Australia Doubles Social Media Ban Penalty for Minors, Bolsters Enforcement

Australia is doubling the maximum penalty for social media platforms found in breach of the nation's minimum age law to approximately $99 million AUD. The government also announced that the eSafety Commissioner, the country's independent regulator, will be empowered to demand proof from social media companies detailing their compliance efforts.

Since December 2025, children under 16 have been prohibited from accessing 10 major social media platforms. However, widespread reports and investigations have indicated that many minors continue to use these banned applications. The eSafety Commissioner has initiated investigations into alleged non-compliance by platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Despite the law's introduction, enforcement has proven challenging.

A visit to a Sydney school in February revealed that most students who used social media prior to the ban still had access. The eSafety Commission's own report found that approximately 70% of children under 16 with pre-existing social media accounts maintained some level of access after the ban was enacted.

In response to these challenges, the government stated that the increased penalties demonstrate a commitment to holding platforms accountable for insufficient compliance. The enhanced powers for the eSafety Commissioner are intended to facilitate more effective investigations and potential enforcement actions.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the global attention the social media minimum age law has garnered but stated that "big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law." He emphasized that "there are still too many children on social media."

Minister for Communications Anika Wells echoed these sentiments, expressing dissatisfaction with the efforts of tech companies. "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. She added that the government is "not satisfied" that companies are taking all necessary steps to prevent underage access.