Australia tightens enforcement of under‑16 social media ban

Australia has moved to enforce its ban on social‑media access for users under 16, doubling maximum fines for non‑compliant platforms to A$99 million (about €63 million). The eSafety Commissioner’s expanded powers target major services such as Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and others, requiring stricter age‑verification and reporting.

A study of 436 Australian teens tracked three months after the law’s rollout found that more than 85 % remained active on the restricted platforms, often using simple self‑declaration of age or work‑arounds like VPNs. Researchers also report no clear mental‑health benefit from the ban, noting mixed evidence on the relationship between social‑media use and adolescent well‑being.