The Australian government has announced plans to double fines for social media platforms that violate the under-16s ban, raising the maximum penalty to $99 million.
The move also grants the eSafety commissioner stronger information-gathering powers.
Experts warn that higher penalties alone will not be effective unless the government shifts into enforcement mode and holds tech giants accountable for content on their platforms.
Experts call for enforcement, not just fines
Catherine Page Jeffery, a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, said stronger enforcement mechanisms are needed.
“There’s no point in doubling the penalty if the regulator doesn’t enforce them,” she said.
She argued that a digital duty of care would place obligations on platforms to proactively ensure safety, including transparency around algorithms.
The government has promised to legislate such a duty but is still consulting on its form.
Research suggests about 80% of under-16s remain on social media despite the ban, which took effect on 10 December.
The government claims more than 5 million accounts have been removed, deactivated, or restricted since then.
Political reactions and calls for algorithm regulation
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the government must tackle algorithms, not just symptoms.
“If the prime minister really is serious about staring down the big tech companies, he’s got to tackle the algorithms,” she said.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledged tech companies have not been doing enough.
“The safety of our kids is too important to let the big tech companies wriggle off the hook,” he told ABC’s Insiders program.
Shadow communications minister Sarah Henderson called the new penalties an “admission of failure” by the government, citing flawed oversight.
A study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute found a direct link between heavy social media use and poor mental health in young people, especially those aged 12–13.
It warned that age-based restrictions alone are unlikely to eliminate risks and recommended holding platforms accountable through a digital duty of care.
Elizabeth Handsley, president of Children and Media Australia, welcomed the alignment of penalties with competition law but questioned whether it would ensure compliance.
“It’s nice to think this matter is being treated as seriously as other corporate breaches,” she said.
TikTok, Snapchat, Meta, and Google were approached for comment.
