Australia adds Reddit, Kick to social media platforms banned for under-16s

ISTANBUL

Australia on Wednesday added Reddit and livestreaming platform Kick to its growing list of social media sites required to bar users under 16, extending a landmark law set to take effect next month.

From Dec. 10, the two platforms will join Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Snapchat, Threads, and YouTube in facing a “world-first legal obligation” to prevent children from opening or maintaining accounts, Communications Minister Anika Wells said.

Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to A$50 million ($33 million).

“We have met with several of the social media platforms in the past month so that they understand there is no excuse for failure to implement this law,” Wells told reporters in Canberra.

“Online platforms use technology to target children with chilling control. We are merely asking that they use that same technology to keep children safe online.”

The country's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, who will oversee enforcement, said the list of restricted platforms will evolve with new technologies.

“We’ll also look for unintended consequences and we’ll be gathering evidence so that others could learn from Australia’s achievements,” she said, noting ongoing research into how the ban may affect children’s sleep, social habits, and physical activity.

The initiative has drawn international attention.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in September she was “inspired” by Australia’s “common sense” approach.

Yet critics, including more than 140 academics, warn the measure could compromise privacy by requiring users to verify their ages.

Wells has insisted that the government aims to keep personal data “as private as possible” while ensuring children’s online safety.