In today’s ExchangeWire news digest: Australia moves to sue Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google over enforcement of its under-16 social media ban, Spotify launches paid memberships to help podcasters monetise their biggest fans, and Spark Foundry research finds 25-to-34-year-olds are the toughest consumers for UK brands to win over

Australia sues platforms over under-16 social media ban 

Australia is preparing to take Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google to Federal Court over claims that they have failed to enforce its social media ban for under-16s, according to Bloomberg. Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed that legal proceedings are imminent against Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, following an enforcement investigation by the eSafety Commissioner. A regulatory review in July found that weak age-verification checks let most underage users keep their existing accounts or open new ones.

Wells said the case targets the platforms’ non-compliance rather than any flaw in the law. The government has doubled maximum penalties to A$109.2m (£57.5m) and widened the eSafety Commissioner’s powers to demand internal records and summon current or former tech executives for questioning. None of the named companies has made a formal public statement on the planned filings.

Spotify launches paid Podcast memberships

Spotify has rolled out paid memberships for podcasters, giving creators a new way to earn from their most devoted listeners. Creators choose their own perks, including bonus audio or video, fewer ads or early access to episodes, and can offer several tiers at different prices. The feature is launching in 34 markets worldwide, including the US, after being previewed at Spotify’s Investor Day in May.

Creators keep 90% of membership revenue. To qualify, a show must be hosted on Spotify for Creators or Megaphone and have at least 100 consumption hours, 100 listeners or viewers, and three published episodes. The launch comes as Spotify pushes deeper into video to compete with YouTube.

UK brands struggle most to win over 25-to-34s 

Britons aged 25 to 34 are the most likely to rethink, reject and replace the brands they use, according to new research from Spark Foundry UK. The study, “Consumers Rewired”, finds this group is more than twice as likely as 18-to-24-year-olds to lose trust in a brand. Spark Foundry calls them “The Milestone Generation”, with 64.8% saying major life events prompt them to reassess brands.

Big financial decisions such as buying a property, taking out a mortgage or arranging insurance trigger the most scrutiny, cited by 75%, followed by health and wellbeing choices (44%). Hidden fees and unexpected costs are the biggest source of disappointment, while recommendations from friends and family remain the strongest influence on confidence in brands, at 33%. Across all UK consumers, 40% lose confidence in a brand after one bad experience, rising to 80% after two.