Australia Expands Social Media Ban for Children Under 16 to Include Reddit and Kick

Australia’s groundbreaking law, which aims to restrict children under 16 from accessing certain social media platforms, has now been expanded to include Reddit and the live-streaming platform Kick. This brings the total number of targeted platforms to nine, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads. Starting December 10, tech companies can face heavy fines of up to A$50 million if they fail to take steps to deactivate accounts belonging to under-16s or prevent new account creation for minors. The government selected these platforms for their focus on enabling social interaction, which is seen as potentially harmful to children due to features like algorithm-driven content and endless scrolling. However, platforms like Discord, WhatsApp, and Roblox are exempt from the ban, as they are seen more as messaging services or gaming sites rather than social media hubs. Despite support for the ban among many Australians, critics argue that the move may lead children to seek out less regulated areas of the internet. Some experts also raise concerns over the methods of age verification, which could include facial recognition, ID checks, and parental consent. This controversial move is being closely watched globally as other countries may follow suit.