Reddit Joins Australia's Social Media Ban for Under-16s

Thu Nov 06 2025 01:24:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

On December 10, Reddit will be subject to Australia’s groundbreaking social media ban for users under the age of 16, alongside platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

Australia's new law, which comes into effect on December 10, will impose a ban on social media platforms for children under 16, targeting nine sites including Reddit and Kick. Companies failing to comply could face hefty fines. The government aims to protect minors from the dangers of online social interaction.

Popular forum site Reddit has been added to Australia's world-first social media ban for children under 16 that starts next month.

Live-streaming platform Kick will also be included, bringing the number of sites targeted in the ban to nine. They include Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads.

From December 10, tech companies could face fines of up to AUD 50 million ($32.5 million; £25.7 million) if they do not take reasonable steps to deactivate existing accounts for users under 16 and prohibit new ones.

Each platform was identified as having a significant purpose in enabling online social interaction, according to the government. More platforms may be included in the future due to the rapid evolution of technology.

Delaying children's access to social media accounts gives them 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, said Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.

Messaging services like Discord and WhatsApp and gaming platforms such as Lego Play and Roblox are exempt from the new regulations, along with Google Classroom and YouTube Kids.

Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized that the ban is designed to protect children from the potential dangers of online interactions. We aren't chasing perfection; we are chasing a meaningful difference, she stated.

Implementation methods for the ban remain unclear, as international leaders watch closely. Potential measures could involve official IDs, parental approval, or facial recognition technology.

Despite polls indicating that many Australian adults support the ban, some mental health advocates warn that it may sever valuable connections for youth or push them into less regulated areas of the internet. They propose focusing instead on policing harmful content and preparing children for online realities.

Amid the impending ban, an Australian influencer family with millions of YouTube followers has made the decision to relocate to the UK, allowing their 14-year-old daughter to continue creating online content.

Although YouTube was initially exempt, the government reversed its decision in July due to concerns about the platform being a common source of harmful content for children aged 10 to 15 years. Teens under 16 will still be able to view YouTube videos but cannot create accounts necessary for uploading or interacting on the platform.