Australia tightens under-16 social media ban, boosts enforcement powers

Australia proposed lifting maximum penalties for under-16 social media breaches to A$99 million and giving the eSafety Commissioner more power to compel records from Big Tech and third parties. The government says more than 5 million under-16 accounts have been removed, deactivated or restricted since the rules took effect on Dec. 10, 2025.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “We’re calling time on the social media companies today and doubling down on the changes that we have made and that we’re prepared to make.” Communications Minister Anika Wells said, “My message to Big Tech is this: we are not stopping.” She said companies that try to frustrate the rules would face “the full force of the law.”

The changes would let the regulator demand board minutes, internal emails and other material needed to build stronger cases in court. The power would also extend to third parties, including age-assurance providers and app-store operators. The eSafety Commissioner is already investigating possible non-compliance by Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

The rules are designed to curb risks linked to logged-in social media use, including design features that can drive more screen time and expose children to harmful content.

The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024 was introduced in Parliament on Nov. 21, 2024 and drew bipartisan support. The framework requires certain platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent under-16s from holding accounts. Children and parents do not face penalties for trying to access the services.

The restrictions are already in force and are “not a ban, it’s a delay to having accounts.” March 2026 guidance listed online gaming and standalone messaging apps among the services excluded under the rules. Julie Inman Grant said on June 2 that the current law did not give the regulator “potent powers.”