Australia’s groundbreaking social media ban for children under 16 will now extend to include the popular messaging board Reddit and live-streaming platform Kick. This decision, announced by the online safety regulator, marks a significant expansion of the country’s efforts to protect young users online.
Communications Minister Anika Wells is set to confirm on Wednesday that these two platforms will join Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X, Facebook, and Instagram, including Threads, as “age-restricted” starting December 10. The eSafety Commission has determined that these eight services meet the criteria for the ban, as their primary purpose is to facilitate online social interaction.
Government’s Firm Stance on Online Safety
Minister Wells emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that she has engaged with major social media platforms in recent months to ensure compliance. “There is no excuse for failure,” she remarked, underscoring the government’s commitment to enforcing the ban.
“eSafety has assessed eight platforms as requiring age-restriction but their assessments will be ongoing and this list is dynamic,” Wells said. “We aren’t chasing perfection, we are chasing a meaningful difference.”
Kick, an Australian competitor to Twitch, boasts an average viewership of approximately 258,000, while Reddit ranks as the seventh-most visited site globally. Both platforms were informed of the potential inclusion in the ban and were given opportunities to present reasons for exclusion. The final decision was made based on these submissions.
Industry Reactions and Preparations
From December 10, platforms failing to prevent Australians under 16 from creating accounts will face fines up to $49.5 million. Several tech giants have expressed concerns about the government’s delayed guidance, which they claim has hindered their preparations. Despite these challenges, representatives from TikTok, Meta, and Snap confirmed at a recent Senate hearing that they would comply with the new laws.
Snap’s global policy senior vice-president, Jennifer Stout, acknowledged Australia’s pioneering role in implementing the ban, stating, “We’re doing the best we can to comply.” Snapchat plans to introduce a tool allowing underage users to download and archive their data before accounts are disabled. TikTok and Meta are exploring similar options for their platforms.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
Minister Wells reiterated the need for responsible social media use, highlighting the dangers of “predatory algorithms, harmful content, and toxic popularity meters” targeting children. “Online platforms can target children with chilling control,” she said. “We are mandating they use that sophisticated technology to protect them.”
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant added that delaying children’s access to social media provides “valuable time to learn and grow” without the influence of “powerful, unseen forces of opaque algorithms and endless scroll.” She encouraged parents to utilize resources on the eSafety website, including live webinars for further guidance.
Platforms exempt from the new age limit include those categorized under messaging, email, voice or video calling, online games, health, education, professional development, or services related to product information. This exemption means popular gaming platforms like Roblox and messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Messenger are not subject to the new laws.
As Australia leads the charge in regulating social media access for minors, the world watches closely. The effectiveness of these measures could set a precedent for other nations grappling with the balance between technological advancement and child safety.
