Australia plans to double fines for social media platforms that fail to block child accounts

The tightening is a result of the platforms' resistance to current age restrictions, according to Communications Minister Anika Wells.

Under the bill, the maximum fine will increase to 99 million Australian dollars, equivalent to just over 664 million Swedish kronor, for platforms that fail to take steps to stop Australian children from having accounts.

Since December, children under the age of 16 have been banned from having social media accounts in Australia. Parliament passed the first legislation with overwhelming support in 2024, giving the affected platforms more than a year to prepare to implement the ban.