Australia announced on Saturday that it will double the maximum financial penalty for social media platforms that violate its world-leading ban on under-16s, aiming to curb widespread evasion of the restrictions. The new legislation raises the maximum fine to Aus$99 million (US$68 million) for systemic breaches and grants the eSafety online watchdog greater enforcement powers.
Government Investigation and Non-Compliance
The government stated that the independent regulator is actively investigating potential non-compliance by major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed dissatisfaction with the industry's efforts, saying, "It's clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law — there are still too many children on social media." He added that the changes reflect the seriousness with which the government views any failure by social media companies to comply.
Evasion Tactics and Global Interest
Underage users have been circumventing the restrictions by using accounts registered to older individuals, creating fake accounts, or logging in through private browsers. The success of Australia's measure is of keen interest to several nations that have introduced or are considering similar bans, including Britain, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, and New Zealand.
Study Finds Limited Impact
One of the first peer-reviewed evaluations of the Australian ban, published this month in the British Medical Journal, found "insufficient evidence" that the restriction significantly reduced social media use among youngsters. The study surveyed over 400 young people immediately before the ban took effect and again three months later, revealing "substantial circumvention" of the rules. There was little change for users aged 12-13, a slight decrease for those aged 14-15, and an increase in use for those aged 16 and older.
Strengthened Regulatory Powers
The government asserts that the regulator needs more authority, despite having blocked over five million accounts held by under-16s since the ban commenced on December 10. Under the new laws, the eSafety Commissioner can compel social media companies to provide evidence of their efforts to prevent under-16s from obtaining accounts. The commissioner will also have the power to demand information and documents from third parties, such as age assurance or app store providers, to verify platform claims.
Ministerial Criticism and Industry Response
Communications Minister Anika Wells expressed dissatisfaction with the platforms' compliance, stating, "Based on the regular updates I receive from the eSafety Commissioner, it is clear to me that social media platforms are adopting tricks straight out of the big tech playbook and doing the bare minimum to get by." She emphasized that the tough new penalties and powers demonstrate the government's commitment to holding big tech accountable, adding, "We will not back down. Instead, we are doubling down on our efforts."
Balancing Teen Well-being and Internet Freedom
A growing body of research suggests that excessive time online harms teen well-being, and Australia's ban has been praised by parents tired of seeing children glued to their phones. However, platforms have pledged to comply with the laws but warn that the measures could push teenagers into darker, unregulated corners of the internet. Social media companies are solely responsible for verifying that Australia-based users are 16 or older and must prove they have taken "reasonable steps" to exclude young teenagers. Some platforms use artificial intelligence tools to estimate ages from photos, while users can also choose to upload a government ID to prove their age.
