Australia Expands Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Australia has added Reddit and the livestreaming platform Kick to the list of social media sites banned for users under 16. These platforms will join others including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X, Snapchat, Threads, and YouTube under a new law set to take effect next month.
New Legal Requirements for Social Media Companies
The law imposes a “world-first legal obligation” on these companies to prevent children under 16 from opening or maintaining accounts. Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized the seriousness of compliance, warning companies they could face fines up to A$50 million (approximately $33 million) for failure to implement the restrictions.
“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,” 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.”
Oversight and Future Developments
The enforcement of this law will be overseen by the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, who noted that the list of restricted platforms will evolve alongside new technologies.
“We’ll also look for unintended consequences and we’ll be gathering evidence so that others could learn from Australia’s achievements,” Grant said, highlighting ongoing research into how the ban might impact children’s sleep, social behavior, and physical activity.
This initiative has attracted global attention as a pioneering approach to protecting children online.
Summary
Australia expands its social media ban for users under 16 to include Reddit and Kick, enforcing strict legal obligations to protect children, with substantial penalties for non-compliance.