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The Australian government says it will double the maximum penalty for social media companies that fail to comply with the country’s under-16 age-restriction law.
The top fine will go from AU$49.5 million ($31.7 million) to AU$99 million ($63.4 million).
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said major tech companies have not done enough to follow the law, which took effect in December 2025.
The law requires platforms to take 'reasonable steps' to stop users under 16 from creating or keeping accounts.
Albanese said too many children are still on social media and that companies need to be held responsible.
The government has drafted a new law to give more power to enforce rules against platforms that do not comply.
If the changes are approved, the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, would have more authority.
She could ask social media companies to show what steps they are taking to enforce the age limit.
Companies that offer age-verification services would also have to provide information to regulators.
Since the law took effect, more than 5 million accounts belonging to users under 16 have been removed, disabled, or blocked, according to the government.
The December 2025 rule applies to 10 platforms, such as X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Twitch, Threads, and Kick.
The government says the law is meant to reduce the harm that algorithms and bad content can cause to children and young people.
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