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Australia is taking an even tougher stance on protecting children online, announcing plans to double the maximum financial penalties for social media companies that fail to enforce the country's landmark ban on users under the age of 16.
Under the proposed legislation, platforms found to be systematically violating the law could face fines of up to A$99 million (approximately US$68 million)—double the current maximum penalty of A$49.5 million. The move comes after government investigations found that many children continue to access social media despite the ban, often by using fake accounts, older users' credentials, or weak age-verification systems.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said major tech companies are not doing enough to comply with the country's world-first social media restrictions, prompting the government to strengthen enforcement rather than relax the rules. In addition to steeper fines, the reforms would expand the powers of Australia's eSafety Commissioner, allowing the regulator to demand more evidence from platforms about how they are preventing underage users from creating accounts. Companies currently under scrutiny include Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok.
The stricter penalties arrive amid growing criticism that the ban has been difficult to enforce. Recent studies suggest a large majority of Australian teenagers under 16 are still able to access social media by bypassing existing safeguards, leading lawmakers to argue that stronger accountability for tech companies—not just users—is necessary.
Australia's approach continues to attract global attention as governments around the world consider similar child online safety measures. Whether the tougher penalties will significantly reduce underage social media use remains to be seen, but the country is making it clear that technology companies—not parents or children—will bear the greatest responsibility for enforcing the law.