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Australia to double potential fines over child social media accounts Australia plans to double potential fines for social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, who fail to prevent Australian children from holding accounts.

Australia to double maximum penalty for platforms in breach of social media ban Children under the age of 16 have been prevented from 10 key social media platforms in Australia since December 2025.

Australia PM: ‘too many children on social media’, ban too easy to avoid Australia said on Saturday it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a groundbreaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use. The government will also strengthen the information-gathering powers of its internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, allowing it to compel social media companies ‌to provide evidence of what they have done to stop under-16s from getting an account. Under the...

Camera Icon The social media age restrictions passed with bipartisan support in December. (Aap Image/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Delay to strengthen social media laws 'extraordinary' Tess Ikonomou AAP 3 July 2026, 10:05am Copy link Share story Anthony Albanese has slammed delays to the government's bid to strengthen Australia's world-first social media ban, after Labor failed to secure support from the coalition to pass the laws. The opposition teamed up with the Greens to block the bill, which would change the under-16s social media ban by doubling fines to $99 million for tech companies who breach the age restrictions. It would also force the tech companies to hand over documents to the online safety watchdog. The social media age restrictions passed with bipartisan support in December, but the proposal to tighten enforcement is yet to be backed by enough politicians to pass. The prime minister said the lack of support was "extraordinary". "We've always said there'd need to be adjustment to the legislation, that we wouldn't allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good, and we haven't done that," he told ABC Radio on Friday. "The eSafety commissioner has said what she needs is more p…

Tech companies have been dragging their feet on enforcing Australia's child social media ban because they want the age limit to fail, federal leaders say. Existing provisions barring children under 16 from platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Reddit will be strengthened through planned changes to legislation. The online watchdog will be granted greater powers and the maximum fine for breaches doubled to $99 million under the proposals, which are due to be introduced to parliament within days. Digital giants would need to provide the eSafety Commissioner with more information about how they were enforcing the world-first ban, Communications Minister Anika Wells told reporters on Sunday. "We know big tech wants this to fail and they would want reporting of anything that shows that these laws aren't working to 100 per cent efficacy," she said. Pressed on why the provisions weren't included in the original laws, Ms Wells said any significant cultural change was bound to be challenging. "My expectations are that the first three years of this will look untidy, because it is always going to be more difficult when you are taking something away," she said. No penalties have…

'We are learning from you': PM Modi praises Australia's social media ... Prime Minister Narendra ModipraisedAustralia'sdecision to ban social media for children under the age of 16 during his visit to the country. Referring to the landmark law restricting children's access to social media, Modi said, "We are learning from you." Modi is visiting Australia for the Australia-India Annual Leaders' Summit, where discussions are expected to focus on trade, defence, security and economic cooperation. Australia's social media ban Australia became the first country in the world to enforce a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16. Under the law, platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, Snapchat, Kick, Twitch, TikTok, Reddit and YouTube are required to prevent users under the age of 16 from accessing their services. Don't Miss:AustralianSuper to invest AU$500 million more in National Investment and Infrastructure Fund The legislation is aimed at protecting young people from harmful online content and reducing the impact of social media on children's mental health. Parents and children will not face penalties for violating the rules. Instead, technology compan…

Australian prime minister condemns delay of changes to child social ... Australian prime minister condemns delay of changes to child social media ban Australian e-Safety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant appears before the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP) AAP IMAGE By Rod Mcguirk, The Associated Press Posted Jul 3, 2026 03:34:43 AM. Last Updated Jul 3, 2026 03:43:08 AM. MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday condemned senators who blocked changes to a world-first social media ban for children, saying tech giants would use the delay to destroy incriminating documents that could be used as evidence against them. The government this week introduced to Parliament amendments aimed at increasing powers of the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s online safety watchdog, to enforce the ban on Australian children younger than 16 from holding accounts on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube that has been in place since December . The amendments would have given Inman Grant power to demand documents as …

Big tech companies have been accused of failing to enforce Australia's social media ban for children as the federal government prepares laws to beef up existing restrictions. Under the changes, social media companies could be fined almost $99 million for failing to enforce the national ban on those younger than 16 - double the previous maximum penalty. Tech platforms will also be forced to reveal their activities to stop children and teens accessing accounts as part of an expected beef-up of regulatory powers. Social media giants need to do more to protect young people from dangerous content online, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said. "We will do more because the big tech companies aren't doing enough," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "We recognise that the future of our kids, the safety of our kids, is too important to let the big tech companies wriggle off the hook or avoid their responsibilities." No penalties have been issued to tech companies for non-compliance under the existing enforcement regime. Given Australia was the first country in the world to attempt such a ban, tweaks were always likely to be needed, fellow frontbencher Murray Watt said. "These laws were …

Governments need to remain vigilant to ensure Australia's world-first social media ban is not being flouted by new technologies, the prime minister warns. Anthony Albanese met with parents who advocated for the digital age restrictions and is moving to strengthen existing rules to address widespread noncompliance with the under-16 age limit. Legislation was introduced into parliament on Monday to double the fines for ban breaches and bolster the online watchdog's powers to investigate social media platforms. Mr Albanese said the changes would help address the number of children still on social media, which was still too high, but warned the overhaul would not be set-and-forget over the coming years. "We said when we did this legislation that it wouldn't be perfect," he told reporters on Monday. "With nudify apps, with algorithms, and with all of these changes that occur with new technologies ... whoever is in government will have to be vigilant and prepared to make changes, and continue to keep on top of this issue." Mr Albanese spoke with Wayne Holdsworth and Mia Bannister, who both lost children to suicide after harmful experiences online. Mr Holdsworth, whose son Mac died…

Australia to double penalty for social media ban breaches to $99m as tech giants accused of ‘not doing enough’ <p>Prime minister Anthony Albanese says too many children still on platforms but he is ‘heartened’ by world-leading law</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/jun/27/social-media-bans-go-global-big-tech-reckoning-australia-crackdown">Social media bans go global: big tech faces a reckoning after Australia’s crackdown</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The federal government will double the penalty for breaches of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/dec/10/social-media-ban-australia-explained-banned-apps-list-guide">Australia’s youth social media ban</a> to $99m, arguing tech companies are “not doing enough” to keep children off harmful social media sites.</p><p>And the eSafety commissioner, now investigating potential breaches of the law by Facebook, Instagram, Sn…

Australia to double potential fines for Facebook and Instagram over child social media accounts Australia plans to double potential fines for social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, who fail to prevent Australian children from holding accounts as critics argue the world-first ban on under-16s was failing.

Big tech companies have been accused of failing to enforce Australia's social media ban for children as the federal government prepares laws to beef up existing restrictions. Under the changes, social media companies could be fined almost $99 million for failing to enforce the national ban on those younger than 16 - double the previous maximum penalty. Tech platforms will also be forced to reveal their activities to stop children and teens accessing accounts as part of an expected beef-up of regulatory powers. Social media giants need to do more to protect young people from dangerous content online, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said. "We will do more because the big tech companies aren't doing enough," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "We recognise that the future of our kids, the safety of our kids, is too important to let the big tech companies wriggle off the hook or avoid their responsibilities." No penalties have been issued to tech companies for non-compliance under the existing enforcement regime. Given Australia was the first country in the world to attempt such a ban, tweaks were always likely to be needed, fellow frontbencher Murray Watt said. "These laws were …

‘Enforcement mode’: Australia must take fight to tech giants to make social media ban stick, experts warn <p>Doubled penalties will have little effect if platforms not held to account for the content they carry, observers say</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The government needs to switch into “enforcement mode” and take on tech giants over its social media ban after doubling fines, experts have warned.</p><p>The federal government announced on Sunday it would introduce new legislation to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/27/australia-under-16-social-media-ban-tech-companies-penalty-double">double fines to $99m</a> for platforms that breach the social media ban, and give the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, stronger information-gathering powers.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/28/enforcement-mode-australia-must-take-fight-to-tech-giants-to-make-social-medi…

Anthony Albanese has slammed delays to the government's bid to strengthen Australia's world-first social media ban, after Labor failed to secure support from the coalition to pass the laws. The opposition teamed up with the Greens to block the bill, which would change the under-16s social media ban by doubling fines to $99 million for tech companies who breach the age restrictions. It would also force the tech companies to hand over documents to the online safety watchdog. The social media age restrictions passed with bipartisan support in December, but the proposal to tighten enforcement is yet to be backed by enough politicians to pass. The prime minister said the lack of support was "extraordinary". "We've always said there'd need to be adjustment to the legislation, that we wouldn't allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good, and we haven't done that," he told ABC Radio on Friday. "The eSafety commissioner has said what she needs is more powers, powers to get documents, and powers to get the information from the big companies. "This legislation is four pages, not complex, simple." Platforms subject to the age restrictions include Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Reddi…

Labor unveils new powers to strengthen social media ban Six months into Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s, the federal government has announced tougher laws that it says will hold big tech to account and keep kids safe online.

Big tech companies have been accused of failing to enforce Australia's social media ban for children as the federal government prepares laws to beef up existing restrictions. Under the changes, social media companies could be fined almost $99 million for failing to enforce the national ban on those younger than 16 - double the previous maximum penalty. Tech platforms will also be forced to reveal their activities to stop children and teens accessing accounts as part of an expected beef-up of regulatory powers. Social media giants need to do more to protect young people from dangerous content online, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said. "We will do more because the big tech companies aren't doing enough," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "We recognise that the future of our kids, the safety of our kids, is too important to let the big tech companies wriggle off the hook or avoid their responsibilities." No penalties have been issued to tech companies for non-compliance under the existing enforcement regime. Given Australia was the first country in the world to attempt such a ban, tweaks were always likely to be needed, fellow frontbencher Murray Watt said. "These laws were …

Australia has said it would double the maximum penalty it can impose on tech firms that ⁠fail to uphold a ground-breaking social media ban for children, as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use

The coalition has been accused of having no compassion for parents of children who have committed suicide after online abuse in delaying reforms to social media laws. Changes to an under-16s social media ban, which would double fines for tech companies to $99 million and force them to hand over documents to the online safety watchdog have been put on hold for at least eight weeks after coalition senators sided with the Greens to block the bill. The ban on under-16s using social media raced through parliament with bipartisan support in December 2024, but fierce debate has erupted over the proposals to tighten enforcement. Communications Minister Wells relayed a reaction from Wayne Holdsworth, whose teenage son committed suicide after being sexually exploited through a social media platform, saying Opposition Leader Angus Taylor had "no compassion at all." "The coalition sold out Australian kids ... giving them at least two more months to sharpen their legal strategy to get rid of documents," she told parliament. "(They) have treated those parents with utter contempt." But kids were still being harmed and hooked by algorithms even with the ban in place, opposition communication…

Governments need to remain vigilant to ensure Australia's world-first social media ban is not being flouted by new technologies, the prime minister warns. Anthony Albanese met with parents who advocated for the digital age restrictions and is moving to strengthen existing rules to address widespread noncompliance with the under-16 age limit. Legislation was introduced into parliament on Monday to double the fines for ban breaches and bolster the online watchdog's powers to investigate social media platforms. Mr Albanese said the changes would help address the number of children still on social media, which was still too high, but warned the overhaul would not be set-and-forget over the coming years. "We said when we did this legislation that it wouldn't be perfect," he told reporters on Monday. "With nudify apps, with algorithms, and with all of these changes that occur with new technologies ... whoever is in government will have to be vigilant and prepared to make changes, and continue to keep on top of this issue." Mr Albanese spoke with Wayne Holdsworth and Mia Bannister, who both lost children to suicide after harmful experiences online. Mr Holdsworth, whose son Mac died…

‘Tech firms are losing the public’: social media age bans near tipping point <p>UK is latest country to set minimum age for social media access but big tech is fighting back globally against curbs</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/jun/27/social-media-bans-go-global-big-tech-reckoning-australia-crackdown">Social media bans go global: big tech faces a reckoning after Australia’s crackdown</a></p></li></ul><p>Arturo Béjar, a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/jan/24/meta-has-not-done-enough-to-safeguard-children-whistleblower-says">former employee turned whistleblower</a> at Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta, has talked to parents around the world. He says they share the same perspective: they dread the day their children are old enough to go online.</p><p>Governments appear to be listening too. This month the UK <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/15/uk-under-16s-social-media-ban-how-will-it-work">became the latest country</a> to state that it would set a minimum age of 16 for accessing major social media platforms. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/jun/27/social-media-bans-go-global-big-t…

Australia social media ban: Tech giants Facebook, TikTok and others to ... Tech giants are failing to properly enforce Australia’s social media age ban, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says, prompting moves to double the penalties they can face to $99 million and equip the eSafety Commissioner with stronger investigative powers. The changes follow acandid interview in this mastheadearlier this month in which commissioner Julie Inman Grant said she had not been “really keen” on the world-first social media ban, and did not have “potent powers” to police the tech platforms she was charged with reining in. Australia’s landmark social media ban for under 16s came into effect last December, amid fierce pushback from captured tech platforms Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. The government has spruiked the policy as a significant win, claiming 5 million accounts have been removed, and the change has spurred similar policies across the globe. However, claims that young people are easily circumventing the ban and doubts over the veracity of account removals data have marred the rollout. “Six months into our world-leading social media law, I am not satisfied that tech c…

Australia to double fine on platforms for flouting teen social media ban <p>Australia will double the financial penalty on platforms flouting its <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1960333">world-leading social media ban</a> for under-16s to stem widespread evasion of the restrictions, the government said on Saturday.</p> <p>New legislation will lift the maximum fine to Aus$99 million ($68 million) for systemic breaches of the regulation and arm the eSafety online watchdog with greater powers to curb the platforms, it said.</p> <p>The independent regulator was “actively investigating” potential non-compliance by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube, the government said in a statement.</p> <p>“It’s clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law — there are still too many children on social media,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.</p> <p>“These changes reflect the seriousness with which we take any failure by social media companies to comply.”</p> <p>Underage users have been dodging the restrictions by using accounts registered to older people, setting up fake accounts, or by logging into private browsers.</p> <p>The success of the Australian restrictio…

Anabelle Colaco30 Jun 2026, 07:02 GMT+ SYDNEY, Australia: Australia plans to strengthen enforcement of its landmark social media ban for children by doubling the maximum penalties for technology companies that fail to prevent under-16s from accessing their platforms. The government announced on June 27 that the maximum penalty for systematic failures to comply with the law will increase to A$99 million (US$68 million) from A$49.5 million. It also plans to expand the powers of the eSafety Commissioner, allowing the regulator to compel social media companies to provide evidence of the steps they have taken to block underage users. The government reiterated that the eSafety Commissioner is investigating possible non-compliance by five platforms: Meta's Instagram and Facebook, Google's YouTube, Snap's Snapchat, and TikTok. Australia's six-month-old social media ban is being closely watched by countries considering similar measures over concerns about the impact of social media on young people's mental and physical health. Britain said this month it plans broader restrictions that will also cover gaming and live-streaming platforms. "I'm heartened by the shift in conversation and t…

Social media giants face tougher fines over Australia's under-16 ban - SBS Social media giants face tougher fines over Australia’s under-16 ban | Midday news bulletin 28 June 05:35 SBS News Headlines Follow and Subscribe Follow and Subscribe Follow and Subscribe Apple Podcasts YouTube Spotify Listnr Download (5.11MB) Download the SBS Audio app Available on iOS and Android Social media giants face tougher fines over Australia’s under-16 ban; Shark drones to patrol NSW beaches year-round; Harry Kane makes history as England beats Panama. Follow and Subscribe Apple Podcasts YouTube Spotify Listnr Download (5.11MB) Download the SBS Audio app Available on iOS and Android Published 28 June 2026 12:00pm Updated 2 days ago 12:16pm Presented by Angelica Waite Source : SBS News Share this with family and friends Copy link Share Social media giants face tougher fines over Australia’s under-16 ban; Shark drones to patrol NSW beaches year-round; Harry Kane makes history as England beats Panama. Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts. TRANSCRIPT Social media giants face tougher fines over Australia’s under-16 ban. Shark drones to patrol NSW beaches…

Labor unveils new powers, penalties to strengthen social media ban for ... legislation Online safety Labor unveils new powers, penalties to strengthen social media ban for under-16s June 28, 2026 • PressClubAi • 13 hours ago • 2 min read Labor has proposed national legislation to toughen Australia’s under-16 social media restrictions, including doubling the maximum penalties for companies that fail to comply and expanding the enforcement powers of the eSafety Commissioner. The ABC reports the package is intended to be legislated before Parliament rises for the winter break on 2 July 2026 . ( abc.net.au ) Australia’s social media age restrictions took effect on 10 December 2025 , requiring age-restricted platforms to take “reasonable steps” to stop people under 16 from creating or keeping accounts. eSafety describes the measure as a delay on under-16 accounts rather than a penalty applying to children who access platforms. ( esafety.gov.au ) Under the current framework, eSafety says civil penalties for non-compliance can reach 150,000 penalty units, equivalent to $49.5 million. The ABC reports Labor would double the maximum penalty for non-compliant tech companies to $99 million . …

Big tech companies have been accused of failing to enforce Australia's social media ban for children as the federal government prepares laws to beef up existing restrictions. Under the changes, social media companies could be fined almost $99 million for failing to enforce the national ban on those younger than 16 - double the previous maximum penalty. Tech platforms will also be forced to reveal their activities to stop children and teens accessing accounts as part of an expected beef-up of regulatory powers. Social media giants need to do more to protect young people from dangerous content online, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said. "We will do more because the big tech companies aren't doing enough," he told ABC's Insiders program on Sunday. "We recognise that the future of our kids, the safety of our kids, is too important to let the big tech companies wriggle off the hook or avoid their responsibilities." No penalties have been issued to tech companies for non-compliance under the existing enforcement regime. Given Australia was the first country in the world to attempt such a ban, tweaks were always likely to be needed, fellow frontbencher Murray Watt said. "These laws were …

Australia to double fines on Big Tech as children bypass social media ban Canberra says tech platforms are still letting too many children bypass its under-16 social media ban.