The Australian government has added Reddit and video streaming platform Kick to its list of social media services required to ban users under the age of 16, effective from 10 December. The move expands the ban, which already covers Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok, as part of a dynamic list that may see further additions.
Communications Minister Anika Wells announced the updates on Wednesday, stating that platforms had been given ample notice and must implement measures to restrict access for minors or face fines of up to $49.5 million. The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, emphasised that the burden is on platforms to self-assess their compliance, with the government monitoring for changes that could bring other services under the ban.
Gaming platform Roblox, which has chat functionalities, was not included. Inman Grant noted that Roblox's primary purpose is gaming rather than social media, but warned that if it introduces more social features, it could be captured. Other platforms under consideration include Discord, Steam, OpenAI's Sora, and Bluesky, with the government watching for 'migratory patterns' of users.
Shadow Communications Minister Melissa McIntosh raised concerns about 'policy on the run' and confusion among parents and children over late additions. She also questioned which age verification technology would be used and the potential use of digital identification. The government has written to 16 companies, including Discord, GitHub, and Twitch, asking them to assess whether they fall under the ban.
Reddit is the only forum-style site included, while Kick was added months after a high-profile death of a French user streaming on its platform. Kick stated it would cooperate with authorities and had banned participants involved in the broadcast. The eSafety commissioner expects platforms to report any major influx of users to help determine future additions.
