Australia Doubles Down on Social Media Ban for Kids

The update

Australia is escalating its enforcement of a law that restricts social media use for users under 16. The government announced new legislation that will double the maximum penalty for systemic breaches of the rule, raising the fine from approximately 49.5 million to 99 million Australian dollars. The regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, will also receive stronger powers to compel compliance from major platforms.

Why it matters

The ban, which took effect in December, was intended to be a global test case for similar restrictions. However, children have continued to access platforms by using accounts registered to older people or through private browsers. The government argues that tech companies are not doing enough to verify age or prevent circumvention, prompting this legislative response.

What to watch

Regulators are currently investigating possible breaches by major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. The effectiveness of the new fines and regulatory powers in actually reducing youth access remains an open question, as does the specific mechanism the government will use to enforce age verification.

Sources

• Al Jazeera — Specific fine amounts, regulator powers, and platform investigations.
• The New York Times — Government statement on tech companies' compliance and the context of the ban.