Australia will enforce a new law on December 10 banning children under 16 from holding accounts on major social platforms. The government has now added Reddit and livestreaming site Kick to the restricted list. They join Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube under this rule.
Communications Minister Anika Wells announced the update on Wednesday, calling the measure a “world-first legal obligation.” She warned that platforms failing to block underage users could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (€28.3 million).
“We have met with several companies this month to ensure full compliance,” Wells told reporters in Canberra. “Social media uses powerful technology to target children. We are demanding that the same technology protect them instead.”
Enforcement and Evaluation of the Ban
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant will oversee enforcement of the age restriction. She said the government designed the rule to cover any platform primarily built for social interaction. “This list will evolve as new technologies emerge,” Inman Grant explained.
The nine affected platforms meet the government’s definition of services that exist mainly to facilitate online social contact. Inman Grant said her team will work with researchers to study the ban’s effects. “We will measure how it changes children’s sleep, physical activity, and real-world interaction,” she said. “We’ll also look for unintended consequences and collect evidence to guide other nations.”
The policy’s rollout positions Australia as a global leader in regulating social media access for minors.
Global Praise and Local Concerns
Other countries have expressed admiration for Australia’s approach. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the move “inspiring” during a UN forum in New York, describing it as a “common-sense response” to online risks. Denmark’s Ambassador to Australia, Ingrid Dahl-Madsen, said her government plans to study the model closely.
Despite international praise, domestic critics warn of potential privacy issues. Experts fear that verifying users’ ages could compromise personal data for everyone online. Wells responded that the government will ensure all data remains private and protected.
Last year, over 140 Australian and international academics signed an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese opposing the policy. They argued that the ban is “too blunt an instrument” to handle online risks effectively.
Even amid criticism, the government insists the law marks a decisive step toward protecting children from the growing harms of unregulated digital spaces.
