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Australia expands under-16 social media ban to include Twitch
Australia's internet regulator has added Twitch to its list of platforms banned for users under 16, broadening a world-first restriction set to take effect next month. The Amazon-owned livestreaming service joins Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and others in enforcing age limits starting 10 December, with existing underage accounts to be deactivated by 9 January 2025.
Regulator cites social interaction as key factor
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant confirmed Twitch's inclusion, stating the platform's primary function-"online social interaction"-aligned with the ban's criteria. Users on Twitch, she noted, engage in real-time chats tied to livestreamed or posted content, mirroring features of other restricted platforms.
"Twitch is a platform most commonly used for livestreaming or posting content that enables users, including Australian children, to interact with others," Inman Grant said in a statement Friday. She added that no further platforms would be added before the ban's implementation.
Twitch confirms compliance with new rules
A spokesperson for Twitch told reporters that the company would block new account creation for Australians under 16 from 10 December, with existing underage accounts slated for deactivation by 9 January. The platform's existing policy already prohibits users under 13 and requires parental consent for those aged 13 to their country's legal adulthood threshold.
Founded in 2007, Twitch has grown into a dominant hub for gamers and creators who monetize content through fan subscriptions, splitting revenue equally with the platform after fees. In 2023, the company revised its revenue-sharing model to offer creators a larger cut.
Pinterest exempt as ban targets interactive platforms
Inman Grant clarified that Pinterest would not face restrictions, distinguishing its core function as a tool for "collating images for inspiration and idea curation" rather than social interaction. The ban, she reiterated, focuses on platforms where user engagement-such as commenting, chatting, or content-sharing-drives the experience.
Enforcement challenges and penalties
The ban mandates that tech companies take "reasonable steps" to verify ages and block under-16 users, with potential fines up to A$49.5 million (US$32m; £25m) for non-compliance. Methods under consideration include government ID checks, biometric tools like face or voice recognition, and age inference-a technique analyzing online behavior to estimate user age.
Meta, which operates Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, announced earlier this week it would begin closing under-16 accounts from 4 December, a week ahead of the official deadline. The full list of banned platforms now includes YouTube, Reddit, Kick, Threads, X (formerly Twitter), and Twitch.
Government rationale: Protecting youth from online harms
Australian authorities have framed the ban as a measure to reduce "pressures and risks" children face on social media, including exposure to harmful content and exploitative interactions. Critics, however, question the feasibility of age verification and the potential for underage users to circumvent restrictions using VPNs or false credentials.
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