Australia announces stricter teen social media laws

Sydney (Web Desk): Australia has announced a significant increase in financial penalties for social media platforms that fail to comply with its under-16 social media ban, raising the maximum fine to A$99 million (US$68 million) for systemic breaches.

The government said the move aims to curb widespread evasion of the restrictions and strengthen enforcement against major tech companies.

Under the new legislation, the independent eSafety Commissioner will also be granted expanded powers to investigate and enforce compliance, including the authority to demand detailed evidence from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said major tech companies were “not doing enough” to comply with the law, noting that too many children were still active on social media despite the ban.

He added that the tougher penalties reflect the government’s seriousness in ensuring compliance from powerful global tech firms.

Authorities say underage users have been bypassing restrictions by using fake accounts, borrowing older users’ profiles, or accessing platforms through private browsing.

According to the government, more than five million under-16 accounts have already been blocked since the ban came into effect on December 10, but concerns remain over widespread circumvention.

Communications Minister Anika Wells said platforms were only doing the “bare minimum” and accused them of relying on loopholes rather than fully implementing safeguards.

The eSafety regulator will now be able to require detailed records from companies and third parties, including app stores and age-verification providers, to assess compliance.

While the policy has been praised by some parents and child welfare advocates, critics warn it may push teenagers toward less regulated online spaces.

Social media companies, meanwhile, maintain they are complying with the law but argue that strict enforcement may be difficult and could affect user behaviour in unintended ways.