Major social media companies have advised the Australian government against relying heavily on preliminary data indicating that most children continue to access their platforms despite a new under-16 ban. Lawmakers are considering stricter penalties and greater investigative authority for regulators. Executives from Google, Meta, Snapchat and TikTok appeared before a Senate inquiry, where they responded to studies, including one from Australia’s internet regulator, showing roughly 80 percent of minors remained active on social media months after the December ban. The session highlighted ongoing differences between policymakers and technology firms regarding the ban’s effectiveness, as the eSafety Commissioner evaluates possible legal measures against some platforms for slow compliance. The inquiry is reviewing proposals to double maximum fines to A$99 million and to strengthen the commissioner’s ability to obtain information from platforms and age assurance providers. YouTube’s government relations head noted that the data represents an early snapshot and warned against over-reliance on it. Meta’s policy head pointed out potential gaps between survey responses and actual account ownership. The companies reported deactivating hundreds of thousands of suspected underage accounts since the law began.
