Seven months after Australia’s under-16 social media ban came into effect, the Federal Government is tightening the screws on big tech.
Despite more than five million under-16 accounts being removed, deactivated or restricted, the government says too many children are still finding their way onto social media. It’s now doubling penalties and giving the eSafety Commissioner stronger powers to hold platforms to account.
The move raises an obvious question for parents across the country. Has the ban actually changed anything?
Companies that fail to comply with information requests or repeatedly breach the laws will now face maximum penalties of up to $99 million, double the previous maximum of $49.5 million.
The changes apply to age-restricted platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit, which are required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or keeping an account.
Why The Tougher Rules?
The new laws will give the eSafety Commissioner stronger powers to demand documents and information from social media companies, as well as third parties such as age assurance providers and app stores, to verify whether platforms are complying with Australia’s world-first laws.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, who led the push for the legislation before it was adopted nationally, welcomed the tougher enforcement measures.
“The evidence is overwhelming, early access to addictive social media causes our kids harm,” he said.
“It’s heartening that millions of Australian kids are now safer as a result but we know there are still too many on social media.
“Big tech companies aren’t doing enough to keep under-16s off social media and I fully welcome this crackdown.”
The social media ban is just one part of South Australia’s broader push to reduce online harm among young people.
The Malinauskas Government has also banned mobile phones in public school classrooms, introduced lessons on the dangers of deepfakes, rolled out a media literacy program in all primary schools to help children distinguish fact from fiction online, and funded initiatives aimed at supporting parents who want to give their children a smartphone-free childhood.
What Do Parents Think?
While governments focus on holding billion-dollar tech companies to account, many families are still navigating what the laws mean at home.
For some parents, the ban has made saying “no” a little easier. They finally have legislation backing up a decision that often led to arguments around the dinner table.
Others say teenagers continue to find ways around the restrictions, whether through existing accounts, incorrect birth dates or accounts set up by older friends or siblings.
Many families continue to rely on their own rules around phones and social media, while the latest changes suggest governments believe stronger enforcement is still needed to keep children off age-restricted platforms.
Whether tougher penalties will change what happens in Australian households remains to be seen, but one thing is clear, the conversation around children and social media is far from over.
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