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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Rod McGuirk

Australia to double potential fines for Facebook and Instagram over child social media accounts

Australia Social Media - (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Australia plans to double potential fines for social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, who fail to prevent Australian children from holding accounts as critics argue the world-first ban on under-16s was failing.

Communications Minister Anika Wells on Monday blamed the platforms’ resistance to the age restrictions for the need to toughen the laws that came into force on Dec. 10.

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