The Australian government has announced a major escalation in enforcement of its social media age restrictions, doubling maximum penalties for companies that fail to comply with the law to $99 million (£51.7 million).

Under the updated legislation, the country’s eSafety Commissioner will gain expanded authority to require social media companies to provide detailed evidence of the measures they are taking to comply with the under-16 ban.

The move comes amid ongoing concerns that major platforms are still allowing minors to access services despite the restrictions, which came into force on 10 December 2025.

The law currently prevents children under the age of 16 from accessing 10 major social media platforms in Australia. However, enforcement has proven difficult, with widespread reports suggesting that many young users continue to use banned apps.

Investigations have already been launched into alleged non-compliance by several major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube.

Although the ban was introduced with strong public support and political backing, officials have acknowledged significant challenges in ensuring full compliance across global technology companies.

In a visit to a Sydney school earlier this year, BBC reporters found that many students who had used social media before the ban were still able to access it. Similarly, a report from the eSafety Commission, Australia’s independent online safety regulator, found that seven out of ten underage users with prior accounts still retained some level of access.

In its latest statement, the government said the increased penalties reflect a tougher stance on enforcement, describing the policy as “doubling down on platforms that are not doing enough” to protect children online.

The strengthened rules signal Australia’s intent to hold tech companies more accountable as it continues efforts to restrict underage access to social media, despite ongoing technical and enforcement challenges.