Australia doubles social media ban fines to A$99m after study shows 85% of teens still online
Australia will double the maximum penalty for social media firms breaching its under-16 ban to A$99 million and give its online safety regulator new powers to compel evidence, as research reveals 85% of 12–15-year-olds still access platforms despite the world-first restriction.
Penalty doubled and regulator empowered
The Australian government announced on Saturday that it will double the maximum fine for social media companies found systematically breaching the under-16 ban from A$49.5 million to A$99 million (USD 68 million). The eSafety Commissioner will also be granted strengthened information-gathering powers, enabling it to compel platforms to hand over evidence of measures taken to block underage account creation. The regulator is already investigating potential non-compliance by Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok.
Ban’s limited effect on teen usage
Despite more than 5 million under-16 accounts being deactivated or restricted since the ban took effect on 10 December 2025, a study published this week in the British Medical Journal found that 85% of 12-to-15-year-olds were still using social media three months after the restriction came into force. Two-thirds of underage users remained online by self-declaring an older age or posting a selfie that age-assurance systems accepted as over 16. An industry body representing tech suppliers has blamed weak deployment of existing age-check tools rather than technological limitations.
Government reaction and platform criticism
Communications Minister Anika Wells said platform operators had used “tricks straight from the big-tech playbook” and done “the absolute minimum”. The government stressed that the new penalties reflect the seriousness with which it treats any failure by social media companies.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 - there are still too many children on social media.
International ripple effect
Australia's world-first ban has become a bellwether for global action. Britain announced its own “Australia plus” ban for under-16s last week, set for 2027, while France's national assembly passed legislation restricting access for under-15s without parental consent. Proposals are under consideration in Slovenia, Poland, Spain, Denmark and Malaysia; Indonesia began blocking under-16s in March, and Malaysia's ban took effect this month. Justin Hendrix, chief executive of Tech Policy Press, noted that efforts in more than 40 countries are being tracked, adding:
The phrase ‘tech's “big tobacco” moment' has been bandied about. It's certainly the case that there is a more substantial body of evidence now than perhaps ever before about the harms and the addictive qualities of social media.
