Australia’s sweeping legislation to prevent children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms is expanding, with the government confirming that Reddit will not escape the ban. Communications Minister Anika Wells announced on Wednesday that Reddit, alongside the Australian streaming site Kick, has been added to the list of prohibited services. The ban is officially scheduled to take effect on December 10.
These platforms join an already formidable list that includes global giants like Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. The initial exclusion of YouTube, based on its status as an educational tool, was reversed after objections from the other companies slated for the ban, highlighting the government’s commitment to comprehensive regulation.
The Australian government views this current roster as only a starting point and has indicated it is actively considering the inclusion of other major online services, such as Discord, Twitch, GitHub, and Roblox, in future updates to the law.
The legislation, which was passed in late 2024, shifts the responsibility for policing underage access directly onto the platforms, rather than placing the burden on parents. This approach mandates that companies take “reasonable steps” to prevent users under the age of 16 from accessing their services.
Failure to comply with these stringent age verification and prevention measures can lead to severe financial consequences. Non-compliant companies face steep penalties of up to AU$49.5 million (approximately $32 million).
Minister Wells firmly defended the legislation’s intent, arguing that the time and place for social media should not include “predatory algorithms, harmful content and toxic popularity [meters] manipulating Australian children.” She stressed that the mandate is a directive for online platforms to use their sophisticated technology to actively protect minors.