Australia Increases Penalties as Global Social Media Bans Grow

The Australian government has announced it will double the financial penalties for social media companies that fail to keep children under the age of 16 off their platforms. Under the new proposal, the fine for systematic breaches of the law will rise to $99 million. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that while he is happy with the global interest in Australia’s approach, it is clear that big technology companies are not doing enough to follow the rules. According to The Guardian, the government believes these higher fines are necessary to ensure that companies take their legal responsibilities seriously.

Since Australia became the first country to introduce a national ban for under-16s in December, the government reports that over five million accounts have been removed or restricted. However, the situation remains complicated. Research published this month in the BMJ, conducted by the University of Newcastle, found that more than 80% of teenagers were still using social media three months after the law started. The study of over 400 young people concluded that the law has had limited success, with many teenagers actively finding ways to bypass age checks. The researchers noted that current verification methods, such as simply asking a user their age or requesting a photo, are often not enough to stop determined users.

To address these gaps, the government plans to give the eSafety commissioner stronger powers. This official will soon have the authority to demand evidence from social media companies about how they are preventing children from opening accounts. The commissioner will also be able to request information from third parties, such as app stores or companies that provide age-verification technology. The Guardian reports that these changes are designed to hold tech giants accountable for their failure to comply with the law.

Australia’s actions have sparked a global trend. According to The Guardian, many other nations are now looking at similar policies to protect young people. For example, the United Kingdom has announced plans for an “Australia-plus” ban to begin in 2027, which will include additional restrictions. Other countries, including Malaysia, France, and Indonesia, have also introduced or are considering their own versions of these bans. Justin Hendrix, the chief executive of Tech Policy Press, describes Australia’s policy as a “bellwether”—a sign of what is to come—for regulators around the world who are increasingly concerned about the impact of technology on children.

This global movement comes at a time when the tech industry is facing intense scrutiny. Many families and government officials worldwide have launched lawsuits against social media platforms. These cases often argue that companies have designed their apps to be addictive, making it difficult for children to stop using them. In one notable case in California, a court found that Meta and YouTube were responsible for creating products that harmed a young user. While the tech companies have denied these allegations, the legal pressure is mounting. Experts like Hendrix suggest that there is now more evidence than ever about the potential harms of social media, though he notes that the scientific community is still learning about the long-term effects.

As countries continue to experiment with different approaches, the landscape of digital regulation is changing rapidly. Some nations, like Poland and Denmark, are combining social media bans with rules that stop the use of smartphones in schools. Others are focusing on parental consent or linking children’s accounts to those of their parents. Despite these varied efforts, the core challenge remains the same: how to manage the massive amount of technology in the lives of young people today. As the Australian government pushes forward with its stricter penalties, the world will be watching to see if these measures can finally make the internet a safer place for children.