According to engadget, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has added Twitch to the country’s groundbreaking social media ban for users under 16. The ban takes effect next month and already includes Facebook, X, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube. Grant specifically cited Twitch’s livestreaming features that enable interaction between users as the reason for inclusion. Pinterest was notably excluded because its core purpose isn’t social interaction. Platforms must now take “reasonable steps” to prevent underage access or face significant financial penalties for non-compliance.
Australia’s Bold Move
This is pretty extraordinary when you think about it. Australia is essentially creating a digital age-gated environment for an entire generation. The government isn’t just targeting one platform – they’re systematically building a wall around all the major social spaces where teens hang out. And they’re doing it with bipartisan support, which tells you something about how concerned lawmakers are becoming.
The Enforcement Challenge
Here’s the thing though – how exactly do you enforce this? The law requires “reasonable steps” to prevent underage access, but we all know how determined teenagers can be. They’ll find workarounds, use VPNs, borrow devices, or just lie about their age. Basically, we’re looking at the digital equivalent of trying to keep kids out of an R-rated movie – except the theater is everywhere and the tickets are free.
Global Implications
Australia isn’t alone in this push. France is working on a similar ban for users under 15, and several US states have tried their own versions. But American attempts keep getting tied up in court over First Amendment concerns. Even milder measures like requiring parental permission face massive legal challenges. So Australia might become the test case that other countries watch closely. If their approach survives legal scrutiny and actually works, we could see a domino effect.
What This Means For Platforms
For social media companies, this creates a massive compliance headache. They’ll need to implement robust age verification systems that actually work, which is easier said than done. The penalties for failure sound serious too – we’re talking about steep fines that could make non-compliance more expensive than implementing proper systems. But honestly, I wonder if some platforms might secretly welcome this. Removing younger users could reduce their moderation burdens and liability risks.
