Australia Expands Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Australia has added Reddit and the livestreaming platform Kick to its expanding list of social media sites required to prevent users under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts. This move extends a groundbreaking law set to come into effect next month.
Platforms Affected by the New Law
- Kick
- TikTok
- X (formerly Twitter)
- Snapchat
- Threads
- YouTube
Legal Obligations and Penalties
These platforms now face a world-first legal obligation to block children under 16 from accessing their services. Companies that fail to comply may incur fines up to A$50 million (approximately $33 million).
“We have met with several of the social media platforms in the past month so that they understand there is no excuse for failure to implement this law,” Communications Minister Anika Wells said in Canberra.
“Online platforms use technology to target children with chilling control. We are merely asking that they use that same technology to keep children safe online.”
Enforcement and Future Developments
The country’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, will oversee enforcement and has indicated that the list of banned platforms will grow as new technologies emerge.
“We’ll also look for unintended consequences and we’ll be gathering evidence so that others could learn from Australia’s achievements,” she said, highlighting ongoing research on the ban's effect on sleep, social habits, and physical activity in children.
International Impact
This initiative has attracted attention worldwide, marking Australia as a pioneer in the regulation of children's access to social media.
Summary: Australia is pioneering a global shift by legally requiring major social media platforms to bar users under 16, aiming to protect children online with strict enforcement and evolving lists of restricted services.