Full Breakdown
Australia Doubles Fines for Social Media Platforms Over Under-16 Ban
6/29/2026, 1:01:59 AM
New Penalties and Expanded Regulator Powers
On 27 June 2026 the Australian government announced that the maximum civil penalty for systematic breaches of the under-16 social-media ban will rise from A$49.5 million to A$99 million (approximately US$31 million to US$68 million). The amendment also gives the eSafety Commissioner authority to compel platforms, age-verification providers and app stores to supply documents and evidence of compliance steps. Five platforms—Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Google’s YouTube, Snap’s Snapchat and TikTok—are currently under investigation for possible non-compliance.
Background: The Under-16 Social Media Ban
The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 took effect on 10 December 2025, prohibiting users under 16 from creating accounts on the ten designated platforms. Australia positioned the rule as a world-first effort to curb youth exposure to online harms, and it has been cited as a test case for other jurisdictions.
Data on Continued Underage Use
Government data indicate that more than 5 million under-16 accounts have been deactivated or restricted since the ban’s launch. A peer-reviewed study in the *British Medical Journal* of 408 adolescents found that 85 % of 12- to 15-year-olds were still using social media three months after the ban, with two-thirds bypassing age checks by self-declaring an older age or submitting a selfie that the platform accepted. The eSafety Commission reports that seven out of ten children who held accounts before the ban retain “some access” today.
Official Statements & Government Rationale
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese framed the stricter penalties as a response to “the seriousness with which we take any failure by social media companies to comply.” He argued that the measures are needed because “there are still too many children on social media.” Communications Minister Anika Wells said the regulator’s new powers are essential to force platforms to move beyond “the bare minimum” and to hold “some of the richest and most powerful companies in the world” accountable.
Criticism, Legal Challenge, and Industry Response
An industry body representing tech suppliers blamed the limited impact on “weak deployment of tools available to run age checks” rather than technological limits. Separately, the forum site Reddit has filed a High Court challenge alleging that the ban infringes on free-speech rights; the government has pledged to defend the legislation. Critics argue that the fines may not address the underlying design of age-verification systems.
On-the-Ground Observations
A BBC team visiting a Sydney secondary school in February found that the majority of students who used social media before the ban still reported access, confirming the eSafety Commission’s findings of persistent circumvention.
International Interest and Potential Replication
The Australian approach is being monitored by the United Kingdom, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand. In June 2026, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced plans for a comparable under-16 ban to take effect by spring 2027, signalling broader global momentum.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact fine conversion: some cite US$34.1 million to US$68.3 million, while others use US$31 million to US$68 million. Reported rates of continued use vary between 70 % (seven-out-of-ten) and 85 % (study sample). No independent audit of platform compliance mechanisms has been released, leaving a gap in verification of claimed age-check effectiveness.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s clear Big Tech are not doing enough to comply with the law – there are still too many children on social media,” — Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister
- “Based on the regular updates I receive from the eSafety Commissioner, 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,” — Anika Wells, Minister for Communications
- “Social media platforms are some of the richest and most powerful companies in the world, and we’re serious about holding them to account,” — Anika Wells
- “These changes reflect the seriousness with which we take any failure by social media companies to comply.” — Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister
- “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,” — Anthony Albanese
What’s Next
The government aims to table the amendment before Parliament’s winter recess in early July. Ongoing investigations will determine whether additional platforms are added to the compliance probe, while the UK prepares its own legislation for 2027. Monitoring of enforcement outcomes and further academic studies are expected to shape future policy adjustments.
