Australia to Double Penalties for Tech Giants as Minors Continue to Circumvent Social Media Ban

Canberra warns tech platforms are failing to prevent children from bypassing age restrictions.

Published On 27 Jun 202627 Jun 2026

The Australian government has announced plans to double fines for social media companies that fail to enforce age restrictions, accusing major tech firms of bypassing the intent of the nation’s under-16 ban.

Under new legislation introduced on Saturday, the maximum penalty for systemic breaches will increase from 49.5 million to 99 million Australian dollars ($31m to $68m). The measures also grant the eSafety Commissioner enhanced authority to compel platform compliance.

The regulator is currently investigating potential violations by major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

“It is evident that Big Tech is failing to comply adequately with the law, as far too many children remain active on social media,” stated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“These legislative changes underscore our commitment to holding these companies accountable for any failure to meet their obligations.”

Since its implementation on December 10, Australia’s ban has positioned the country as a global pioneer in regulating youth access to digital platforms. Nations such as the United Kingdom, Indonesia, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates are closely monitoring the outcome of this policy.

Despite the regulations, many minors have successfully bypassed safeguards by utilizing accounts registered to older individuals, creating fraudulent profiles, or using private browsers to mask their age.

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal highlighted these challenges, noting “insufficient evidence” that the ban has significantly decreased social media usage among youth. Following a survey of over 400 children conducted before and after the ban, researchers reported widespread circumvention of the rules.

While the government reports that over five million accounts belonging to users under 16 have been blocked, Communications Minister Anika Wells maintains that platform efforts remain inadequate.

“Reports from the eSafety Commissioner suggest that social media platforms are performing only the bare minimum, often employing tactics designed to evade true compliance,” Wells remarked.

“These are some of the most powerful and wealthy corporations in the world, and we intend to ensure they are held to account,” she added.

The expanded regulatory powers will allow the eSafety Commissioner to mandate the disclosure of documents and evidence from social media platforms, age-verification services, and app stores. Under the law, platforms are required to demonstrate they have taken all “reasonable steps” to prevent underage access, which may include AI-driven age estimation or government-issued ID verification.

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