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  • 2 days ago
Fines doubled as teens outsmart Australia's world-first social media ban

Australia moves to double fines for social media platforms after seven in 10 children remained active on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok three months after the world-first ban on under-16s took effect — with Big Tech accused of "taking the Mickey."

READ MORE : http://www.euronews.com/2026/06/29/fines-doubled-as-teens-outsmart-australias-world-first-social-media-ban

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00:03Australia is set to double potential fines to 63 million euros for social media platforms
00:10failing to prevent Australian children from holding accounts.
00:13Seven in ten kids remain on restricted platforms three months after a world first ban on under-16s came into
00:20force.
00:21The eSafety Commissioner is actively investigating non-compliance by five major platforms.
00:26Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
00:31The Commissioner has found these companies are adopting a range of dirty tricks to undermine Australia's law that is straight
00:38out of the big tech playbook.
00:40The government announced Sunday it would introduce draft legislation this week to double the potential fines.
00:47The amendments would also give more powers to Australia's online safety watchdog eSafety
00:52to demand information from platforms to test their claims about how under-16s circumvents the ban.
00:59The government initially reported more than 5 million children had accounts removed, deactivated or restricted after the law passed.
01:08Parliament passed the initial ban with overwhelming support in 2024.
01:12Targeted platforms were given more than 12 months to comply.
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