The Australian government announced on Saturday that it will significantly strengthen its landmark social media minimum age law by doubling the maximum penalty for non-compliant platforms to $99 million.

The updated legislation will also grant the eSafety Commissioner — Australia’s independent online safety regulator — new powers to compel social media companies to provide evidence of the steps they have taken to enforce the ban on users under 16.

Australia became one of the first countries to implement a national social media ban for children under 16 when the law took effect on 10 December 2025. However, enforcement has proven challenging, with widespread reports of continued access by minors.

The government has already launched investigations into five major platforms — Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube — over alleged failures to comply with the ban.

Despite the high-profile rollout, multiple reports indicate the ban has been easy to circumvent. A BBC visit to a Sydney school in February found that most students who used social media before the ban continued to have access. The eSafety Commissioner’s own report revealed that seven out of ten children under 16 who had accounts prior to the ban still had “some access.”

In its statement, the government acknowledged these difficulties, describing the tougher penalties as a clear signal that it is “doubling down on platforms that are not doing enough.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was encouraged by global momentum on the issue but criticized tech giants for insufficient action.

“I’m heartened by the shift in conversation and the global momentum we’ve seen since introducing the social media minimum age, but it’s clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law,” Albanese stated. “There are still too many children on social media.”

Communications Minister Anika Wells echoed the frustration, saying she was “not satisfied” with the efforts of social media platforms.

“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.

Australia’s ban has already influenced other nations. In June 2026, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced plans to introduce a similar prohibition for children under 16, set to take effect by spring 2027.

The Australian government has not yet released a complete final list of banned platforms, but said the law will apply to services “whose purpose is to enable social interaction and which allow users to post material.”

Additional measures under consideration include an overnight curfew and restrictions on infinite scrolling for users under 18.

The government hopes the increased penalties and enhanced investigative powers will lead to more effective enforcement and greater compliance from technology companies. (ILKHA)