Australia Implements Unprecedented Social Media Age Restrictions Including Reddit and Kick Platform

Australia's teen social media ban will take effect from December 10, marking a significant development in global digital regulation.

Sydney's internet regulatory body has expanded its groundbreaking teen social media restrictions to now encompass Reddit and the live streaming platform Kick. The watchdog indicated that additional platforms could be added to this list if their primary function involves facilitating online social interaction.

With this landmark legislation, Australia becomes the first nation worldwide to implement financial penalties of up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for social media companies that fail to implement reasonable measures preventing users under 16 from accessing their platforms.

The eSafety Commissioner has advised technology companies to regularly evaluate whether they meet the criteria of an 'age-restricted social media platform' when introducing new features or if their main usage patterns evolve.

Several platforms including Discord, GitHub, LEGO Play, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, Google Classroom, Messenger, WhatsApp and YouTube Kids currently do not satisfy the regulatory definition of an age-restricted social media platform.

Major platforms already designated under the restrictions include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube.

The regulator emphasized that the list of age-restricted companies will remain dynamic due to the rapidly evolving nature of technology. As new platforms emerge or existing ones transform their purposes, the eSafety Commission may reassess their status.

"We will continue to take a whole of ecosystem approach, but we want to reinforce that just because a service is excluded, it does not mean it is absolutely safe," eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant stated.