Reddit, Kick latest platforms swept up in Australia’s pending under-16s social media ban

Online forum Reddit is one of the latest platforms to be included in Australia’s social media ban, with just 35 days until children under 16 are locked out.

Communications Minister Anika Wells announced Reddit and video streaming platform Kick would join six more well-known apps — Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X — in the world-first restrictions.

The platforms included will be required to shutdown the accounts of users aged under 16 and stop them from starting accounts or face fines of up to $49.5 million.

Ms Wells warned other platforms could also soon be on the digital hitlist — describing it as a “dynamic list” as assessments by the eSafety Commission continued ahead of the December 10 implementation date.

“eSafety has assessed eight platforms as requiring age-restriction but their assessments will be ongoing and this list is dynamic. We aren’t chasing perfection, we are chasing a meaningful difference,” she said.

“We encourage all Australians to engage with the range of resources now available on esafety.gov.au to help them understand the laws and, importantly, why they’re necessary for the good of young Australians.”

She said the Albanese Government was working to shield young Australians from “predatory algorithms, harmful content and toxic popularity metres manipulating Australian children”.

Australian-owned app Kick allows streaming which can include gambling and incidental nudity and sexual content in games. Users can also multi-stream to other platforms simultaneously such as YouTube Live and Twitch.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the ban would help delay children’s access to social media accounts to give them “valuable time to learn and grow, free of the powerful, unseen forces of opaque algorithms and endless scroll”.

Ms Inman Grant has also meet with several AI platforms, including Anthropic, Open AI, Character AI and Gemini AI owner Google to assess what safety guardrails they have in place.

She had flagged in her June National Press Club address that apps would be subject to ongoing monitoring and assessment as many evolved beyond their initial function — often by adding new features like AI chatbots.

Under the legislative rules, standalone messaging and online gaming apps are excluded.

It has caused tension for Snap, the parent company of chat-focused app Snapchat, which has evolved to have several other dynamic features since it first launched.

YouTube had also pushed back on its inclusion, asserting it wasn’t a traditional social media platform but rather a video-streaming service.

While apps like Discord and online gaming platform Roblox remain exempt, eSafety has released guidance on the apps and sought assurances they would enhance age checks and safety protocols.

The Government launched a $14 million advertising blitz across TV, billboards, and “ironically” social media last month to help prepare young Australians as the implementation date draws closer.

Titled “For The Good Of” the main campaign video depicts several children holding smartphones in various different settings.

Ms Inman Grant encouraged people to visit eSafety.gov.au for more information.