Australia doubles fines for children's access to social media

The Australian government has announced plans to double the maximum penalty for companies that fail to enforce the national ban on social media use by children under 16. When a law designed to protect children proves powerless, the government does not back down — it tightens the rules. The world first ban on social media for under 16s, which took effect in December 2025, did not work as expected: a study found that more than 85% of children under 16 continued to use the platforms. Now Canberra is striking back — doubling fines and giving the regulator new powers.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Saturday evening that tech companies were "not doing enough" to comply with the ban on social media use by under 16s. He said the government would introduce legislation to federal parliament that would increase the maximum fine for companies that fail to prevent under 16s from using their platforms from A$49.5 million (US$34.1 million) to A$99 million (US$68.2 million).

The world first ban took effect in December 2025, but a study published on Thursday by the University of Newcastle found that more than 85% of children under 16 said they were still using social media three months after its introduction. In addition to tougher fines, Albanese said the proposed legal changes would give the eSafety Commissioner broader powers to compel social media companies to provide evidence of the measures they are taking to prevent under 16s from using their platforms. The regulator will be able to demand internal documents, including board minutes and internal emails. eSafety is currently investigating five platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the government intends to pass the legislative changes before the federal parliament's annual winter break begins on Thursday.

The ban on social media use by children under 16, which took effect in December 2025, was the world's first law of its kind. Although the government says more than 5 million under 16 accounts have been removed, deactivated or restricted since the ban was introduced, the study found that most children still find ways to bypass the restrictions, using fake accounts or accounts belonging to friends and family. Communications Minister Anika Wells said tech giants were doing "the bare minimum to get by" and had used "tricks straight out of the big tech playbook". She also stressed: "Social media platforms are some of the richest and most powerful companies in the world, and we're serious about holding them to account".

When children find loopholes in the law faster than corporations find ways to close them, governments have to play the long game. A$99 million is not just a fine. It is a signal: even the richest companies in the world are not above the law when it comes to children's safety. The study showing that 85% of teenagers are still on social media is not a failure of the ban — it is proof that the battle has only just begun. Australia is not backing down: it is doubling down, expanding the regulator's powers, and reminding tech giants that their "social responsibility" is not just a marketing slogan.

As reported by CCTV+, the bill will be introduced to parliament in the coming days and is expected to be passed before the parliamentary recess.