Australia Extends Teen Social Media Restrictions to Include Reddit
The Australian government has included Reddit in its roster of platforms prohibited for users under 16, as the app’s popularity among teenagers globally continues to rise. In an official statement on its website, the eSafety Commission stated, “We have informed Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit that they are age-restricted platforms and are required to comply with Social Media Minimum Age restrictions from December 10.” Earlier, the government indicated that Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube would be subject to the law, adding that other unnamed platforms might also be included in the ban. With only a month remaining, the regulator has communicated to the wider online industry that all platforms must consistently evaluate whether they qualify as an “age-restricted social media platform,” especially when they implement new features or alter their primary usage.
“If they do meet the definition, they must take reasonable steps to ensure users under 16 do not hold an account,” it stated. The government was contemplating the expansion of the ban. In September, the Australian government contemplated broadening its restrictions on social media for teenagers to encompass platforms like WhatsApp, Roblox, Discord, and Reddit. As per reports, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant communicated with 16 companies, cautioning that the ban might extend to their services and urging them to utilize eSafety’s “self-assessment” tool to ascertain if their platforms are subject to the new regulations. The Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024 mandates that age-restricted social media platforms are required to implement reasonable measures to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from establishing or maintaining accounts.
The eSafety Commissioner states that the ban is intended to safeguard young users from the pressures and risks associated with social media design, which includes elements that promote excessive screen time and exposure to harmful content. Notifications, alerts, and disappearing content have been linked to diminished sleep quality, decreased attention spans, and heightened stress levels. While most platforms currently set a minimum age of 13, raising it to 16 allows young people the opportunity to cultivate essential skills such as digital literacy, critical thinking, and impulse control. Officials indicate that it also facilitates improved education on online dangers, coping mechanisms, and methods for seeking assistance, providing adolescents with a safer experience as they attain full access.
Some services have been left out of the ban. Exclusions apply to platforms whose sole or primary purpose is messaging, email, voice, or video calling; engaging in online gaming with other users; enhancing education or health; disseminating details about products or services; networking among professionals or advancing careers; or enabling communication between educational institutions and students or families, as well as between healthcare professionals and patients.
