# Australia Doubles Fines on Social Media Giants as Kids Bypass World's First Under-16 Ban

*2026-06-30 14:03 UTC · Technology · 1 min read*

> Australia will double fines on social media platforms to AU$99 million after data shows 7 in 10 underage children are still bypassing the world's first nationwide under-16 social media ban.

Australia announced plans to double maximum fines against social media platforms from AU$49.5 million to AU$99 million ($68 million) for companies that fail to keep children off their platforms. The crackdown comes after data showed the world's first nationwide social media ban for under-16s, which took effect in December 2025, is being widely circumvented.

Seven in 10 underage children were still holding accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok months after the ban began, according to the eSafety Commissioner. A peer-reviewed British Medical Journal study found 85% of Australians aged 12 to 15 continued using social media three months after the ban took effect, with kids bypassing restrictions through fake profiles, accounts registered to older people, and private browsers.

Communications Minister Anika Wells accused platforms of "doing the bare minimum to get by" and said the eSafety Commissioner would gain stronger powers to demand compliance documentation. More than 5 million underage accounts have been blocked so far, but the government is now investigating Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube for possible systemic breaches.

## Sources

- [aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/27/australia-to-double-fines-on-big-tech-as-children-bypass-social-media-ban)
- [npr.org](https://www.npr.org/2026/06/29/nx-s1-5874576/australia-fines-child-social-media-accounts)
- [gizmodo.com](https://gizmodo.com/australia-ups-the-ante-in-under-16-social-media-ban-as-kids-find-workarounds-2000778930)

---
TechTools News · https://techtools.cz/tools/news/article/1919-australia-doubles-fines-on-social-media-giants-as-kids-bypass-world-s-first
Česká verze: https://techtools.cz/tools/news/clanek/1992-australie-zdvojnasobuje-pokuty-pro-socialni-site-protoze-deti-obchazeji-prvni