Australia Expands Age Restrictions on Social Media Platforms
Australia will prevent users under 16 from accessing several social media platforms, including Reddit and Kick. As a result, Australian 10- and 14-year-olds will theoretically be unable to post on subreddits like r/Im14andthisisdeep or use any subreddit at all, as Reddit joins the country’s list of age-restricted platforms.
Scope of the Ban and Affected Platforms
Alongside Reddit, the livestreaming service Kick will also face restrictions when the ban takes effect early next month, making many social media sites inaccessible to young Australians.
The Role of the eSafety Commissioner
This approach may seem unusual to Americans. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner oversees online platform regulation, somewhat similar to the FCC and FTC in the United States, but with a primary focus on protecting children from harmful online content.
“The Commissioner’s powers were expanded in 2022, partly due to ongoing outrage over the Facebook livestreaming of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings and the spread of that footage on platforms including Reddit.”
Background and Enforcement
The ban stems from a preliminary list initiated about a year ago following an investigation by the eSafety Commissioner. This list has grown to include TikTok, X, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, and Kick.
Additionally, platforms such as Roblox, OpenAI’s Sora, Discord, Steam, and Twitch are under government review and might face restrictions in the future, according to The Guardian.
“A large swath of the social media world becomes unavailable to young people in Australia early next month.”
Summary: Australia is tightening online safety laws by banning under-16s from Reddit, Kick, and other major social media platforms to shield children from harmful content.