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43m ago

Australia Adds Reddit and Kick to Under‑16 Social Media Ban as Dec. 10 Deadline Nears

Regulators describe a dynamic roster that currently excludes messaging and gaming services as platforms move to deploy age checks under the threat of steep fines.

FILE - A young girl uses her phone while sitting on a bench in Sydney, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)
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The Reddit app icon on a smartphone in this illustration taken October 27, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
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Overview

  • eSafety has ruled that Reddit and live‑streaming platform Kick meet the legal test for age restriction, joining Facebook, Instagram (including Threads), TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and X.
  • From December 10, platforms must take reasonable steps to stop under‑16s holding accounts or face penalties of up to A$49.5 million under the law.
  • Messaging apps and online games are presently out of scope, with exemptions covering services such as WhatsApp, Messenger, Discord, Roblox, LEGO Play, Google Classroom and YouTube Kids, while Twitch remains under assessment.
  • TikTok, Meta and Snap told parliament they will comply despite objections, Kick says it will implement measures, and YouTube and X have signalled opposition or have not confirmed compliance.
  • The burden is on companies to detect and deactivate under‑age accounts without making government ID the sole proof of age, as experts warn of possible workarounds and privacy risks and the commissioner’s designation powers remain untested in court.