Australia has decided to impose stricter penalties on social media companies that break its age restriction law. The government will now raise the maximum fine to $99 million for companies that fail to obey the rules.
The new changes also give more power to Australia’s online safety regulator, the eSafety Commissioner. The commissioner can now force social media companies to show proof of what they are doing to stop children from using their platforms. Australia introduced its social media age ban on 10 December 2025. Since then, children under 16 have been banned from using 10 major social media platforms. However, enforcing the law has been difficult.
Many children are still using social media despite the ban. Reports indicate that a large number of under-16 users continue to access these apps. During a visit to a school in Sydney, many students said they still used social media after the restrictions began. The eSafety Commissioner also found similar results. According to its report, about seven in ten children under 16 who had social media accounts before the ban still have some access today.
Because of these findings, investigations have started across several major platforms. These include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Authorities are checking whether these companies have properly obeyed the law. According to Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, tech companies are not doing enough. He stated that too many children still use social media, necessitating stronger action.
Australia’s Communications Minister, Anika Wells, shared similar concerns. She said some companies appear to be doing only the minimum required to avoid penalties. Australia’s law has also influenced other countries. Some governments are now considering similar rules for young users.
The United Kingdom is one example. In June 2026, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans for a similar ban on social media for children under 16. The new law is expected to begin in spring 2027. The UK is also considering extra protections. These include nighttime app restrictions and features to reduce endless scrolling for users under 18.
