The Australian government is doubling the maximum penalty for tech firms failing to enforce the under-16 social media ban to A$99 million.
The eSafety Commissioner will receive expanded powers to compel companies to provide evidence of their age-restriction compliance measures.
Recent studies show that 85% of Australian teens aged 12-15 are still accessing restricted platforms, often by circumventing basic age checks.
Major platforms including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat, and TikTok remain under active investigation for potential non-compliance.