Australian authorities announced they will increase the maximum penalty for violating the country's social media minimum age law to $99 million. The eSafety Commissioner will also receive authority to request evidence from platforms about compliance measures. The ban, which prohibits children under 16 from accessing ten major social media services, has been in effect since 10 December 2025, though enforcement has been uneven. Investigations are under way into alleged non‑compliance by Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. A report from the eSafety Commissioner indicated that seven of ten children under 16 with existing accounts still have some access. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the stronger penalties reflect the need for platforms to do more, and Minister for Communications Anika Wells expressed doubt that companies are doing everything possible to keep children off social media. Other countries, including the United Kingdom, have indicated plans to adopt similar bans, with the UK proposing a comparable restriction for under‑16s to take effect in spring 2027. The legislation also considers additional measures such as a night‑time curfew for under‑18 users and limits on infinite scrolling.