Australia is proposing increased fines for social media companies under the age of 16
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Australia introduced new legislation in Parliament on Monday to strengthen enforcement of its ban on communications with people under the age of 16 and give its internet regulator more powers to pursue techies in court for non-compliance.
The move comes as evidence shows that children are still able to access social media six months after the world’s first restrictions were introduced in December.
Australia’s implementation and enforcement of the ban is closely watched by many countries that have enacted or are committed to creating their own such laws.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there are still too many children on social media and tech firms are not doing enough to comply with the ban.
“We’re calling time on social media companies today and we’re doubling down on the changes we’ve made and are willing to make,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“Today, we will introduce legislation this afternoon that will go a step further to ensure that social media companies do everything in their power to prevent children under the age of 16 from being on their platforms.”
The internet regulator, eSafety, is investigating the possible non-compliance of five platforms: Facebook’s Meta and Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and Google’s YouTube.
No immediate comments from Meta, Google and Snapchat. TikTok declined to comment.
Albanese called on the opposition coalition to support the bill, marking the first time the policy was passed with bipartisan support.
Additional fines have been proposed
The changes, announced on Saturday, will double the fines to $99 million ($96.5 million Cdn) from $49.5 million ($48.5 million Cdn).
They also give the eSafety commissioner the power to compel documents such as company board minutes and internal emails, ensuring that legal cases against platforms that fail to comply are “as strong as possible,” Communications Minister Anika Wells said.
Introducing the bill in Parliament, Wells accused firms of deliberately failing to comply and using “dirty tactics” to undermine the ban.
“Today Australia is sending a message to those companies: we see what’s going on, we’re not here to play games. If you want to do business in Australia, you’re going to comply with Australian laws. And if you don’t, you’re going to face the consequences,” he said.
Canada’s proposed social media ban for children under 16 aims to protect children from online harm, but Dalhousie University professor Michael Karanikolas tells CBC’s Tom Murphy that the bill could raise privacy concerns and violate the constitutional rights of young users.
Sydney resident Bill Wright said he was happy the government was taking more steps to hold telecommunications companies accountable.
“We may be the best in the world in solving problems, but it is clear that we have a lot to do,” he said.
“The money we will try to fine companies for not doing what is right is still not enough.”
The new law needs parliamentary approval before it can come into force.
Quick steps around the world
While Australia was an early mover on the issue, several governments around the world have introduced similar legislation this year or are preparing to do so through legislative committees.
Earlier this month in Ottawa, the Liberal government introduced bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act, which would force social networks to restrict the accounts of children under the age of 16 unless the platforms can implement adequate safeguards to protect them.
The British Labor government under Keir Starmer announced its proposal on June 15. Starmer announced his intention to resign days later, although polls in Britain show great support for doing something to protect under-16s from using social media.
US lawmakers have for years refused to pass comprehensive legislation regulating social media, and current proposals in the Senate and House of Representatives do not appear to be moving forward.
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The proposed House bill agreed to in the chamber last week does not include a “duty of care,” which many senators want. Such language would require companies to make social media platforms consider the safety of children.
Due to struggles at the federal level, at least 20 US states passed laws last year addressing the use of children on social media, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, although some of the laws are facing legal challenges.
Snap’s Snapchat, Meta’s Instagram, Google’s YouTube and TikTok are the most popular digital platforms for those aged 13-17, according to a report by the Pew Research Center that studies American youth and was published in December 2025.
