Australia has made a courageous move to protect their children. They’ve made themselves the first country in the world to ban social media platforms for anyone under 16 years old. In just a few short weeks, dramatic new legislation will go into effect. The law seeks to shield children from possible harms caused by the internet by banning access to major social media platforms.
The ban stretches to cover all large platforms including YouTube, Reddit, Kick, Threads, and X. Well, Twitch is the latest addition to this growing list. The Australian federal government expects technology companies to take “reasonable steps” to ensure users younger than 16 don’t access their services. If you don’t, you may incur significant penalties. These penalties may be as high as AUD 49.5 million, approximately USD 32 million or GBP 25 million.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, very soon will begin shuttering accounts of teens younger than 16. This action will go into effect on December 4. Even Amazon-owned Twitch clearly states in their Community Guidelines that no one under the age of 13 should be using their service. Users 13 years and older can participate, provided they get permission from a parent or guardian.
Australian eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, elaborated on the reasoning behind banning Twitch. She noted in particular that the platform is used as a space for what she referred to as “the online social interaction.” She emphasized that it is “a platform most commonly used for livestreaming or posting content that enables users, including Australian children, to interact with others in relation to the content posted.”
As it stands, Pinterest will not be subject to the ban because its core purpose is deemed not centered around online social interaction. It is “more commonly used by individuals collating images for inspiration and idea curation,” according to Inman Grant.
The eSafety Commissioner will be tasked with enforcing this ban, making sure that the tech companies comply to this new directive. No other platforms are likely to be subject to the ban, which begins officially in its start date of next month.