The government wants tougher penalties because many young users still access major platforms despite the new rules. Officials say social media companies must do more to stop underage account creation and remove existing accounts held by children.
If lawmakers approve the changes, companies could face fines of up to A$99 million for serious or repeated breaches.
Australia Pushes Tougher Penalties
Australia introduced its social media ban to keep children under 16 away from major platforms. However, the government now argues that stronger enforcement is needed.
The proposed changes would double the current maximum penalty from A$49.5 million to A$99 million. That amount equals roughly US$68 million.
Officials believe higher fines will pressure platforms to improve age checks and respond faster when regulators identify underage users.
Regulator Could Gain More Power
The plan would also give Australia’s eSafety Commissioner stronger investigative powers.
The regulator could demand internal documents from social media platforms, app stores, and age verification providers. Those records could show how companies check users’ ages and whether they act quickly enough when children bypass restrictions.
This would make it harder for platforms to claim compliance without showing evidence.
Millions of Underage Accounts Removed
The Australian government says social media companies have already removed, restricted, or deactivated more than five million underage accounts.
Even so, officials believe many children still use the services. Some create fake profiles, while others use accounts registered to parents, older siblings, or other adults.
That makes enforcement difficult. It also explains why the government wants stronger penalties and broader investigative powers.
Tech Firms Face Growing Pressure
Australia has taken one of the world’s toughest approaches to children’s online safety.
The country’s social media ban has attracted global attention, and other governments are watching the results closely. Supporters say the law protects children from harmful content, addictive design, and online exploitation.
However, critics argue that strict age checks could create privacy risks and push young users toward less regulated online spaces.
Australia Wants Platforms to Prove Compliance
The latest proposal shows that Australia does not want platforms to treat the law as a symbolic measure.
Instead, officials want companies to prove that they can identify underage users, remove prohibited accounts, and prevent children from returning with new profiles.
If the reforms pass, social media companies will face much higher financial risk when they fail to enforce the social media ban.
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