Australia doubles fines to A$99 million for social media platforms violating under-16 ban

Australia has announced it will double the maximum financial penalty for social media platforms that fail to comply with its under-16 access ban, raising the fine from A$49.5 million to A$99 million for systematic failures. This legislation, which prohibits minors under 16 from creating or holding accounts on major platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, places the entire enforcement responsibility on tech companies rather than punishing children or their parents. The government is strengthening the powers of the eSafety Commissioner to compel information from these companies and is considering extending enforcement requirements to include app stores and age assurance providers to better protect the mental health and wellbeing of Australian youth. These measures affect ten major social media platforms and streaming services, signaling a harder stance on technology firms that have not effectively enforced the mandatory age restrictions introduced in December 2025.