Australia's world-first social media ban for children under 16 will now include Reddit and Kick, the online safety regulator has ruled. Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed on Wednesday that the two platforms join Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads as age-restricted services from December 10.
The eSafety Commission declared that the nine services meet the criteria for the ban, specifically that their sole or significant purpose is to enable online social interaction. Minister Wells stated that the list is dynamic and could change, noting that eSafety has assessed eight platforms but will continue evaluations.
Kick, an Australian competitor to Twitch, has an average viewership of about 258,000, while Reddit is the seventh-most visited site globally. Platforms that fail to take reasonable steps to block under-16 users from holding accounts face fines of up to $49.5 million from December 10.
Tech giants have argued that the government's slow release of information has hampered preparation. However, officials from TikTok, Meta, and Snap confirmed at a Senate hearing that they will begin blocking young teenagers when the laws take effect. Snap is developing a tool for underage users to download data before account suspension, while TikTok and Meta are exploring similar options.
Minister Wells emphasized that there is no space for predatory algorithms or harmful content targeting children. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said delaying access gives children valuable time to learn and grow without the influence of opaque algorithms. She encouraged parents to visit the eSafety website for resources and live webinars.
Exempt platforms include messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger, email, voice or video calling, online games, health, education, and professional development services. Gaming platform Roblox is not captured, but eSafety has requested steps to prevent adult users from contacting children without parental consent. The agency is also monitoring platforms like Yubo and Bluesky that may see an influx of young users trying to circumvent the ban.
