Reddit Added to Platforms Facing Teen Social Media Ban
As the Albanese government prepares to implement a landmark policy, eSafety has included Reddit and Kick in the list of social media platforms subject to minimum-age restrictions in Australia.
Age Restrictions and Platforms Affected
The federal government has officially notified Reddit that it will be classified as an age-restricted platform under the new Australian minimum age laws for social media. This list already includes Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Threads, and Kick.
Starting 10 December, these platforms must take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under 16 from creating accounts, or they risk facing fines up to $49.5 million.
Scope and Exemptions
eSafety noted that the list remains flexible to accommodate new platforms and evolving services. Certain platforms such as Discord, Roblox, WhatsApp, Messenger, and YouTube Kids are not initially included. This highlights that the ban targets platforms primarily designed for social interaction rather than all environments used by youth.
“We recognise this transition will be significant,” said eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. “We will continue to take a whole of ecosystem approach, but we want to reinforce that just because a service is excluded, it does not mean it is absolutely safe.”
She added that the changes aim to give young people “valuable time to learn and grow, free of powerful, unseen forces of harmful and deceptive design features.”
Summary
The Australian government’s social media age restriction policy will soon require major platforms, including Reddit, to restrict users under 16, aiming to protect young people from harmful online influences.
Author's summary: This policy marks a significant shift toward safeguarding youth from deceptive online designs by enforcing age limits on major social platforms like Reddit and TikTok.