The Australian government has finally had enough of the excuses from Silicon Valley. Officials announced a massive hike in penalties for social media companies that fail to keep children under 16 off their platforms, doubling the maximum fine to $99 million.
This move comes as the eSafety Commissioner launches investigations into five major platforms—Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube—for failing to enforce the ban that took effect in December 2025.
Despite the fanfare surrounding the legislation, reports from the eSafety Commission reveal that seven out of ten children who used social media before the ban still have access to these apps.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells have rightly called out these companies for using 'big tech playbook' tactics to avoid meaningful compliance. In addition to the steeper fines, the government is empowering the eSafety Commissioner to compel companies to hand over evidence of their compliance efforts.
While Big Tech continues to drag its feet, other nations like the UK are already looking to follow Australia’s lead, signaling a growing international consensus that these platforms must be held accountable for the environments they create for minors.
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