The Australian government has added Reddit and video streaming platform Kick to its list of online services required to ban users under the age of 16, effective from 10 December. Communications minister Anika Wells announced the additions on Wednesday, stating that the platforms join Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok in facing fines of up to $49.5 million if they fail to comply.
eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant described the list as 'dynamic', indicating that more platforms could be added in future. She noted that gaming platform Roblox and OpenAI's Sora are under consideration, but Roblox was excluded for now because its primary function is gaming rather than social media. 'The burden goes back onto the platforms themselves' to self-assess, she said, with the government monitoring for features that resemble social media.
Shadow communications minister Melissa McIntosh expressed concerns about 'policy on the run', warning that late additions could confuse parents and children. She also questioned the lack of clarity on age verification technology and the potential use of digital identification. Despite backing the intent of the legislation, she said many Australians have contacted her with worries about implementation.
Inman Grant confirmed that 16 companies, including Discord, GitHub, Roblox and Twitch, were asked to assess whether they would be subject to the ban. Twitch was not included, but Kick was added after a high-profile death of a French user streaming on the platform in August. Kick stated it would cooperate with authorities and review its content.
The minister downplayed concerns about children attempting to circumvent the ban, saying 'kids will be kids', but hinted that technology changes required by the legislation would likely block such efforts. The government expects platforms to report any major influx of users, as it monitors 'migratory patterns' to other services not yet covered by the ban.
