Australia is escalating its crackdown on social media platforms. After becoming the first country in the world to implement a ban on social media for those under 16, the federal government has announced a sharp increase in penalties. In an official press release, the Australian government stated that the maximum fine for companies breaching the minimum age law will double from AUD 49.5 million to AUD 99 million, equivalent to over USD 68 million.
Prime Minister Albanese says big tech not doing enough to comply
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese justified the tougher stance with the lack of compliance from tech giants. "It is clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law," Albanese said. "These changes reflect the seriousness with which we take any failure by social media companies to comply with our world-leading law." The Australian government is also expanding the powers of the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Grant, who can now demand that social media companies provide evidence of how they are preventing children under 16 from creating accounts. The regulator can also gather evidence from third parties, such as age verification providers or app stores, to verify compliance with the ban. The online safety agency has already stated that it is actively investigating potential non-compliance by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.
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Over 5 million accounts removed but doubts about effectiveness grow
Although the government claims to have removed, deactivated, or restricted over five million under-16 accounts since the ban took effect in December, recent studies and polls raise questions about its actual impact. In April, the Molly Rose Foundation, a charity, found that 61% of more than 1,000 children aged 12 to 15 surveyed still had access to social media. Even more striking, a study from the University of Newcastle published recently asserts that over 85% of Australian teens under 16 are still active on apps like TikTok and Instagram. These figures suggest that despite the deterrent of fines, practical enforcement remains complex. Australia's case is being closely watched by other countries, including the United Kingdom and the European Union, which are considering similar measures. Meanwhile, those seeking alternatives to traditional social media might explore ultra-short-throw Google TV projectors, which are convincing many users to change their entertainment habits.
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The increased penalty, now AUD 99 million, sends a strong signal to platforms. According to the government, the new punitive threshold is necessary to ensure that companies invest seriously in effective age verification systems. Commissioner Grant has launched large-scale investigations, also involving external providers such as app stores and identity verification services. For deeper context on the inequalities highlighted by the growth of the "Almost Homeless" subreddit, read the analysis in Italian. Australia confirms its role as a global laboratory for social media regulation, with fines now reaching up to AUD 99 million (approx. USD 68 million) and enhanced investigative powers for the oversight authority. The challenge remains translating sanctions into real behavioral change, both on the part of platforms and underage users. As documented by the eSafety Commissioner, the official government online safety body, the battle to protect minors has only just begun.
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Source: https://www.engadget.com/2203358/australia-doubles-maximum-penalty-social-media-ban
