Key facts
- Australia will double the penalty for breaches of its youth social media ban to $99 million.
- More than 5 million accounts held by under-16s have been removed, deactivated, or restricted since the ban began.
- Research indicates over 80% of under-16s are still using social media three months after the ban's introduction.
- The eSafety Commissioner will gain powers to compel social media companies to provide evidence of their compliance efforts.
- The French national assembly passed legislation prohibiting social media access for children under 15.
- The UK government announced plans for an 'Australia-plus' ban for under-16s from 2027.
Australia is set to double the penalty for social media platforms that fail to comply with its ban on under-16s accessing their sites, raising the maximum fine to $99 million. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that despite the world-leading legislation, introduced on December 10, 2025, tech companies are "not doing enough" to keep children offline.
More than five million accounts held by under-16s have been removed, deactivated, or restricted since the ban began. However, research suggests that a significant majority of children are still bypassing age restrictions and accessing social media. A study by the University of Newcastle found that over 80% of under-16s were still using social media three months after the legislation came into force, with common age verification methods including self-declaration or uploading a photo of themselves.
Proposed reforms will also strengthen the powers of the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, allowing her to compel social media companies, and potentially third-party age verification providers, to provide evidence of their compliance efforts. Communications Minister Anika Wells criticized the platforms for using "tricks straight out of the big tech playbook" to do the "bare minimum."
Australia's efforts have gained international traction, with France passing similar legislation for under-15s and the UK planning an "Australia-plus" ban for under-16s from 2027. Other countries like Slovenia, Poland, Spain, and Malaysia are also considering similar measures.