Australia has added message board Reddit and livestreaming service Kick to its list of social media platforms that must ban children under the age of 16 from holding accounts.
The platforms will join Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube in being legally required to close the accounts of younger Australian users from December 10th, Communications Minister Anika Wells said on Wednesday, November 5th.
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.
Platforms failing to comply with the new regulations could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (€28.3 million).
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said she would work with academics to evaluate the impacts of the ban, including whether children sleep better, interact more, or become more physically active.
We’ll also look for unintended consequences, and we’ll be gathering evidence so that others can learn from Australia’s achievements.
