The Australian government is preparing to strengthen its landmark social media ban for children under 16, following evidence that the current system is failing to keep minors off major platforms. Since the legislation took effect in December 2025, researchers have found that many young users are easily bypassing age-verification measures. In response, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to increase the maximum fines for non-compliant tech companies from approximately 50 million to 99 million Australian dollars.
The original law required platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat to take reasonable steps to prevent users under 16 from maintaining accounts. However, recent testing by the software firm KJR revealed that dozens of new test accounts were created without any request for age verification. These findings suggest that the initial vetting processes used by many platforms are not effectively flagging young users, allowing them to circumvent the rules through simple methods like providing false birthdates or using virtual private networks.
This policy challenge has gained international attention, with the United Kingdom recently announcing an 'Australia plus' model that aims to go even further by restricting harmful features like livestreaming and stranger communication. As Australia works to refine its approach, the government is consulting with regulators to determine if existing powers are sufficient to hold tech giants accountable. The debate highlights the ongoing struggle to balance child safety with the practical difficulties of enforcing digital age limits in a globalized online environment.