Australia Doubles Social Media Ban Fines to A$99M as Tech Giants Face Investigation

Australia is doubling maximum penalties for systematic breaches of its under-16 social media ban from A$49.5 million to A$99 million as the eSafety Commissioner launches investigations into five major platforms.

The enforcement escalation follows accusations that tech companies are failing to prevent minors from accessing their services despite the law, which took effect December 10, 2025, requiring platforms to verify user ages using multiple methods.

The eSafety Commissioner is investigating potential breaches by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. The regulator's information-gathering powers are being expanded to compel evidence from platforms and third parties, including age assurance providers and app store operators.

Enforcement Escalates

More than 5 million social media accounts held by under-16s have been removed, deactivated or restricted since the ban commenced, according to figures reported as of early March 2026. Yet research suggests significant compliance gaps remain.

A study published in the British Medical Journal by University of Newcastle researchers found that more than 85% of under-16s continued to use restricted social media platforms three months after the ban took effect, indicating widespread ability to bypass age verification systems.

The Albanese Government has issued a blunt warning to technology companies: "If you want to do business in Australia, you must obey Australian laws."

Global Regulatory Trend

Australia's aggressive stance reflects a broader international push to regulate children's access to social media amid growing concerns about cyberbullying, addiction and mental health harms. Similar restrictions are emerging in the UK, Indonesia, Malaysia and Greece.

The penalty increase signals a shift from voluntary compliance to active enforcement. Under the amended framework, systematic breaches of the age ban can attract fines up to A$99 million, putting meaningful financial pressure on platforms that fail to implement effective age assurance at scale.

The tension highlights the challenge national governments face when regulating global technology companies that may resist restrictive local laws or struggle to deploy verification systems that cannot be easily circumvented by young users.

Tech giants now face a choice: invest in robust age verification infrastructure that can withstand regulatory scrutiny, or risk nine-figure penalties while continuing to operate in the Australian market.