British Medical Journal

Australia will double fines for social media platforms violating its under-16s ban to Aus$99 million, granting the eSafety regulator expanded powers to investigate compliance. The government cited widespread evasion tactics by underage users and criticized platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for insufficient efforts to enforce the restrictions.

The Australian government plans to strengthen laws banning children under 16 from social media after evidence showed the current ban is failing. Other countries like the UK, Canada, and Brazil are implementing similar age-based restrictions, while platforms face fines if they fail to remove underage accounts.