The Australian government is ramping up its efforts to enforce a social media ban for those under 16, announcing plans to double maximum fines for platforms to Aus$99 million (approximately US$68 million). Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized big tech companies for failing to adequately police their services, noting that too many children are still accessing these platforms. To bridge these gaps, the eSafety Commissioner is receiving enhanced authority to demand documentation and evidence from social media companies, as well as third-party providers, to verify whether platforms are taking genuine steps to prevent underage usage.

Despite the government claiming that over five million accounts belonging to minors have been blocked since the regulations began in December, recent studies suggest the impact has been limited. Research published in the British Medical Journal indicates that many teenagers are easily bypassing these restrictions by utilizing fake accounts or masking their identities. While government officials remain steadfast in their commitment to holding tech giants accountable for their "bare minimum" compliance efforts, industry leaders continue to warn that these strict policies may inadvertently drive young users toward more dangerous, unregulated corners of the digital world.