The Australian government has doubled fines for social media platforms that fail to enforce the under-16 ban, but experts warn that real effectiveness requires proactive enforcement and a digital duty of care that holds tech giants accountable for algorithms and content. With 80% of under-16s still accessing social media, pressure grows to move beyond penalties and regulate platform designs that threaten young users' mental health.
Australia is intensifying its efforts to enforce a ban on social media for children under 16, with the government recently doubling fines for non-compliance to up to AUD 99 million.
The move comes after experts warned that the nation must shift into "enforcement mode" and directly hold tech giants accountable to ensure the landmark ban is effective. Since the ban took effect on December 10, the government reported over 5 million accounts have been removed, deactivated, or restricted.
However, a senior lecturer in media and communications at the University of Sydney, Catherine Page Jeffery, noted that approximately 80% of under-16s still report remaining on social media, indicating that stronger enforcement mechanisms are necessary. She emphasized that doubling penalties alone is insufficient without active regulatory enforcement.
Page Jeffrey also criticized the ban for eroding young people's online rights and advocated for a policy shift toward a "digital duty of care" that would obligate platforms to proactively ensure safety, including greater transparency around algorithms. The government has committed to legislating a digital duty of care but is still consulting on its final form. The Greens, represented by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, insisted the focus must be on regulating algorithms rather than merely addressing symptoms.
She argued that the major parties previously rejected such measures and urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to confront big tech by tackling algorithmic designs that promote harmful engagement. While the Greens support strengthening penalties and the powers of the eSafety commissioner, they maintain that algorithmic regulation is essential for long-term child safety online. Treasurer Jim Chalmers echoed the commitment to increased penalties and eSafety's authority, calling children's safety too important to let companies evade responsibility.
Further evidence underscoring the urgency comes from a Murdoch Children's Research Institute study linking heavy social media use to poor mental health in young people, especially those aged 12 to 13. Critics note that the ban alone may not address underlying issues such as compulsive engagement driven by platform features and algorithms.
Law professors like Elizabeth Handsley of Western Sydney University view the aligned penalties as a positive step, comparable to fines under competition law, though their effectiveness hinges on robust enforcement. As Australia's ban garners international attention-with a UK minister visiting to learn ahead of a potential similar crackdown-the debate continues over whether the measures are truly working or if a deeper regulatory overhaul of digital platforms is required
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