Australia Expands Teen Social Media Ban to Include Reddit
CANBERRA, Australia – Australia is extending its upcoming ban on social media platforms for users under 16 to include Reddit, bringing the total number of targeted sites to ten. The ban, set to take effect December 10th, aims to protect children from harmful online content and manipulative design features.
The platforms now subject to the ban are Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, Discord, WhatsApp, roblox and Reddit. Tech companies face fines of up to A$50 million (approximately $32.5 million USD or £25.7 million) if they fail to remove existing accounts belonging to under-16s and prevent the creation of new ones.
the Australian government selected these platforms because their “sole or a significant purpose is to enable online social interaction,” and reserves the right to add more sites as technology evolves.
eSafety Commissioner julie Inman Grant stated the delay in access “gives [children] valuable time to learn and grow, free of the powerful, unseen forces of harmful and deceptive design features such as opaque algorithms and endless scroll.”
Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized the platforms’ “chilling control” over children and affirmed the ban’s purpose is child protection, stating, “We aren’t chasing perfection, we are chasing a meaningful difference.”
Implementation methods under consideration include official ID verification,parental approval,and facial recognition technology. Though, critics have voiced concerns regarding data privacy and the reliability of age verification systems, as highlighted in a recent report detailing the risks and shortcomings of proposed methods.
While public opinion polls indicate majority support for the ban, some mental health advocates argue it could isolate young people or drive them to less-regulated online spaces, suggesting a focus on content policing and digital literacy education instead.
YouTube was initially excluded from the ban but was added in July after being identified as the platform moast frequently cited for exposing children aged 10-15 to harmful content. under-16s will still be able to view YouTube videos, but will be prohibited from creating accounts necessary for uploading content or interacting with the platform.
