Australia Increases Fines for Social Media Companies Violating Under-16 Ban
Australia's government doubles maximum penalties for social media platforms that systematically violate the ban on users under 16, raising fines to 99 million Australian dollars (€60 million) and expanding the digital safety regulator's powers.
The Australian government announced on Saturday that it is tightening penalties for tech companies failing to protect minors on social media. A new bill will raise the maximum fine for systematic violations of the under-16 ban to 99 million Australian dollars (approximately €60 million) and grant the eSafety commissioner broader oversight powers.
The regulator is actively investigating potential violations by platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that big tech companies are not doing enough to comply with the law, as too many children still use social networks.
Minors circumvent restrictions by using adult accounts, creating fake profiles, or logging in via private browsers. Australia's ban has drawn significant interest from other nations, including the UK, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand, which are considering similar measures.
However, a peer-reviewed study published this month in the British Medical Journal found insufficient evidence that the ban has significantly reduced social media use among young Australians. Researchers surveyed over 400 young people just before the restrictions took effect and again three months later. Results showed negligible changes among 12–13-year-olds, a slight decrease among those aged 14–15, and an increase among users aged 16 and older.
