Australia to take action against tech firms over under-16 social media ban

Australia is preparing legal action against five major technology companies over alleged breaches of its ban on social media accounts for children under 16, Communications Minister Anika Wells has said.

Australia is preparing legal action against five major technology companies over alleged breaches of its ban on social media accounts for children under 16, Communications Minister Anika Wells has said.

The companies named are Meta-owned platforms Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat.

Wells announced the planned action in an interview with Bloomberg in Sydney, saying the country’s online safety regulator was gathering evidence to bring a case against the companies in the Federal Court.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner launched an investigation into the five platforms in March, examining whether they had complied with the law.

The legislation requires social media providers to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from holding accounts on their platforms, as part of the government’s efforts to protect young people from online harm.

The law also expanded the investigative powers of eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, enabling her to demand documents from social media companies and summon current or former employees for questioning.

“Now she has more powers to be able to gather the evidence that she needs to take those five companies to the Federal Court,” Wells said. “She’s now using those powers to prepare her case.”

Australia’s under-16 social media restrictions took effect in December 2025, making the country the first to introduce such a nationwide ban. Companies that fail to comply face maximum penalties of A$49.5 million per contravention.