Australia added Reddit and livestreaming service Kick to the list of platforms required to block users under 16. The ban will take effect on December 10. Communications Minister Anika Wells said the move strengthens Australia’s world-first effort to protect minors online.
The rule now applies to nine major platforms—Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, and Kick. Each must close or restrict accounts belonging to users younger than 16. Wells warned that companies failing to comply face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (€28.3 million).
“We’ve met with several platforms this month to ensure they understand the law,” Wells told reporters in Canberra. “These companies use advanced technology to target children. We are asking them to use the same power to protect them.”
eSafety Commissioner to Oversee Enforcement and Research
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, will oversee enforcement of the new rules. She said the government’s age-restricted list would evolve as new platforms and technologies emerge. The affected platforms meet the key definition of having “a sole or significant purpose of enabling online social interaction.”
Inman Grant said her office will collaborate with researchers to study the law’s broader effects. “We’ll measure whether children sleep better, socialize more, or become more physically active,” she explained. “We’ll also watch for unintended consequences and gather data to help other nations learn from our progress.”
Global Attention and Debate Over Privacy
Australia’s bold approach is drawing international attention. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the decision in September, calling it an “inspiring example of common sense.” Denmark’s Ambassador to Australia, Ingrid Dahl-Madsen, said her government will “look closely” at Australia’s model to guide its own child-protection policies.
Critics, however, warn that the new law may compromise privacy by forcing all users to verify their ages. More than 140 Australian and international academics signed an open letter last year opposing a blanket age ban, calling it “too blunt an instrument” to address digital risks effectively.
Wells acknowledged the privacy concerns but said the government aims to protect personal data while prioritizing child safety. “We want to keep Australians’ information private,” she said, “but we will not allow social media companies to exploit children unchecked.”
