Australia to take legal action against major platforms over under-16 social media ban

Australia is preparing to sue five major social-media services—Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube—for alleged violations of the nation’s ban on users younger than 16, Communications Minister Anika Wells said. The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, received broader investigative authority in July, allowing her to demand documents and compel testimony from current or former platform staff. An eSafety audit revealed that most under-age users could keep existing accounts or open new ones because the platforms lack effective age-verification mechanisms.

Since the ban took effect almost a year ago, the government has doubled the maximum fine for breaches to A$109.2 million. Wells emphasized that the law is not failing; rather, the tech companies are not complying, and the government will not hesitate to hold them accountable. Representatives from Meta, Snap Inc., ByteDance and Google have not responded to requests for comment.