Livestreaming gaming app Twitch to be included in Australia’s under-16s social media ban
Livestreaming gaming app Twitch has been the latest platform put on warning ahead of Australia’s impending under-16s social media ban.
Twitch will join nine other platforms — Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube — included in the world-first legislation.
Within gaming and messengering apps are exempt, Australia’s eSafety commissioner revealed on Friday the Amazon-owned platform was included due to its online social interaction features.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Twitch will now be required to take reasonable steps to deactivate all accounts held by under-16s in Australia and block them from starting a new one or face fines of up to $50 million.
“Following Twitch’s own self-assessment, eSafety assessed Twitch as meeting the criteria for ‘age-restricted social media platform’, because it has the sole or significant purpose of online social interaction with features designed to encourage user interaction, including through livestreaming content,” the eSafety Commission said in a statement published on Friday.
eSafety also ruled out popular visual discovery engine Pinterest from the ban and claimed no further assessments were planned in the lead up to the ban taking effect on December 10.
“eSafety has also informed Pinterest it does not consider it subject to age restrictions. While Pinterest enables some online social interaction, it is not the significant purpose,” it stated.
“Pinterest is more commonly used by individuals collating images for inspiration and idea curation.”
Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has previously stated that it would ultimately be a matter for the courts whether a service is an age restricted social media platform under the Australian legislation.
It comes as Meta warned young users on Thursday to download and save data from its platforms Facebook, Instagram and Threads as they’ll start deactivating account from December 4.
Users believed to be aged between 13 and 15 are being notified by text, email and in-app messages that their accounts will be deleted and under-16s will no longer be able to create new ones on Meta’s social media platforms.
If Meta’s evaluation of a user’s age on December 4 is wrong, the user will be able to challenge it by taking a “video selfie” to prove their age using facial scan technology. They will also have the option to upload their ID.
