Canbera: The Australian government is preparing to strengthen its world first ban on social media use by children under the age of 16 after new studies showed that many young users are still finding ways to access popular online platforms. The move comes only months after the landmark law took effect and follows growing concerns that technology companies are not doing enough to prevent children from creating or keeping social media accounts.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government remains committed to protecting children from the harmful effects of social media and is determined to make the legislation more effective. While describing the law as an important step, he acknowledged that the early results have shown there is still a long way to go before the rules can achieve their intended purpose.
Australia introduced the law in late 2025, making it the first country to impose a nationwide minimum age of 16 for social media accounts. The legislation places the responsibility on technology companies rather than children or parents. Companies are expected to take reasonable steps to stop underage users from accessing their services or risk facing penalties of up to A$49.5 million.
However, recent research has suggested that the ban has not significantly reduced social media use among young people. Studies found that a large majority of children who previously used social media continue to access the platforms despite the restrictions. Researchers said many teenagers are still able to bypass age checks by entering false dates of birth, creating new accounts or taking advantage of weaknesses in existing verification systems.
These findings have prompted the government to review the legislation and consider giving regulators stronger powers to enforce the rules. Officials believe tougher legal measures will make it more difficult for technology companies to avoid responsibility and improve compliance across the industry.
Australia's eSafety Commissioner has also called for stronger enforcement powers, saying the current legal framework has limitations when dealing with companies that fail to stop underage users from accessing their platforms. The regulator has been investigating several major technology companies over their compliance with the law and has indicated that legal action could be taken if companies are found to have failed in their obligations.
Among the platforms under scrutiny are Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit and X. Regulators are examining whether these companies have taken sufficient steps to verify users' ages and prevent children from creating accounts. If they are found to have breached the law, they could face substantial financial penalties.
One of the biggest challenges has been the issue of age verification. Many social media companies currently rely on users to enter their date of birth or use technology such as facial age estimation to determine whether someone is old enough to create an account. Experts say these methods are not always reliable and can often be bypassed by determined young users.
The Australian government is now exploring stronger age verification systems while also trying to protect users' privacy. Officials have stressed that any future changes must strike a balance between keeping children safe online and ensuring that personal information is handled responsibly.
Beyond the social media ban, the government is also developing broader online safety reforms that would introduce a digital duty of care for technology companies. Under the proposed changes, platforms would be expected to take greater responsibility for reducing harmful content and limiting the risks created by recommendation algorithms that expose young users to inappropriate material.
Australia's approach is attracting attention from governments around the world. Several countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Denmark, Norway, Indonesia and Brazil, are closely watching the Australian experience as they consider introducing similar restrictions to improve online safety for children.
Supporters of the Australian law argue that stronger regulation is necessary because social media can expose children to harmful content, cyberbullying and addictive online behaviour. Critics, however, have raised concerns about privacy, freedom of expression and the practical difficulties of enforcing strict age verification without collecting excessive personal data.
As Australia moves to tighten its groundbreaking legislation, the country is once again at the centre of the global debate over how governments should regulate social media and protect children in the digital age. The outcome of these reforms is likely to influence similar policies in many other countries seeking to balance online freedom with child safety.