Australia toughens kids’ social media ban, doubles potential penalties for tech firms

Government says eSafety is probing Meta, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok over possible non-compliance Reuters June 28, 2026 2 min read nstagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, Twitch and Reddit applications are displayed on a mobile phone in this picture illustration taken on December 9, 2025. REUTERS Australia said on Saturday it would double the maximum penalty ​it can impose on tech firms found to have failed to uphold a ground-breaking social media ban for children, ‌as evidence mounts that the ban has had little effect on teen use. The government will also strengthen the information-gathering powers of its internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, allowing it to compel social media companies to provide evidence of what they have done to stop under-16s from getting an account. Under the changes, the maximum penalty for ​systematic failures to uphold the ban jumps to A$99 million ($68 million) from A$49.5 million. The government reiterated that eSafety is actively investigating ​the possible non-compliance of five platforms: Meta’s  Instagram and Facebook, Google’s  YouTube, Snap’s  Snapchat and TikTok. Australia’s six-month-old ban is ⁠being closely watched by many nations seeking to emulate it due to concerns about the impact of social media on youth mental and physical ​health. Britain this month said it planned restrictions
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