Australia's Pioneering Social Media Ban Gets a Major Update: Twitch Now Off-Limits for Under 16s
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has added another online platform to Australia's social media ban list, leaving millions of children under the age of 16 without access to popular livestreaming site Twitch. As part of a nationwide ban on platforms deemed hazardous to minors, including Facebook, X, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Reddit, Twitch's inclusion is a significant development in the country's efforts to safeguard its youth from online harm.
The reasoning behind Twitch's addition to the ban list stems from its popularity as a platform for livestreaming and posting content that enables users, particularly children, to interact with others. With an expected fee of AU$280,000 (approximately US$190,000) for every failed attempt by platforms to comply with the law, the penalties are steep.
For now, it appears that Pinterest will remain exempt from the ban, as its core purpose is not deemed online social interaction. However, while VPNs may provide some relief for young users seeking to bypass the restrictions, the overall effect of the ban remains formidable.
Other countries have been exploring similar measures in recent months. Denmark recently announced a bipartisan agreement to enact a social media ban for users under 15, although details are scarce. In the US, several states have attempted to pass laws limiting access to popular platforms like Twitch and YouTube, with some measures facing opposition on First Amendment grounds.
As concerns about minors' social media usage continue to grow, Australia's ban has sent a clear message: safeguarding young users is a priority. But while progress has been made, more needs to be done to address the potential ill effects of these platforms on their youngest users.
The eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, has added another online platform to Australia's social media ban list, leaving millions of children under the age of 16 without access to popular livestreaming site Twitch. As part of a nationwide ban on platforms deemed hazardous to minors, including Facebook, X, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Reddit, Twitch's inclusion is a significant development in the country's efforts to safeguard its youth from online harm.
The reasoning behind Twitch's addition to the ban list stems from its popularity as a platform for livestreaming and posting content that enables users, particularly children, to interact with others. With an expected fee of AU$280,000 (approximately US$190,000) for every failed attempt by platforms to comply with the law, the penalties are steep.
For now, it appears that Pinterest will remain exempt from the ban, as its core purpose is not deemed online social interaction. However, while VPNs may provide some relief for young users seeking to bypass the restrictions, the overall effect of the ban remains formidable.
Other countries have been exploring similar measures in recent months. Denmark recently announced a bipartisan agreement to enact a social media ban for users under 15, although details are scarce. In the US, several states have attempted to pass laws limiting access to popular platforms like Twitch and YouTube, with some measures facing opposition on First Amendment grounds.
As concerns about minors' social media usage continue to grow, Australia's ban has sent a clear message: safeguarding young users is a priority. But while progress has been made, more needs to be done to address the potential ill effects of these platforms on their youngest users.
I mean, Australia's already pretty strict online regulations and now they're telling kids under 16 they can't access Twitch? It sounds like a giant inconvenience to me 
Not to mention the fact that millions of Aussie teens are basically being forced offline. What about all the good things on Twitch, like gaming communities and educational content for minors? Does that just get erased because of some scary stuff going on online? 
I guess it's true that Australia wants to protect its youth from harm, but can't we just have a nuanced approach here? 
. And what's next? Are they gonna take down YouTube too for similar reasons? 
. Just saying.
. Like I get where they're coming from, online safety is super important, but totally blocking Twitch (and other platforms) might be a bit too much? I mean, what about all the good stuff that comes out of there? It's not like all content is created equal... and what's next, banning YouTube for kids under 18? 
. And honestly, parents should probably be teaching their kids how to use the internet responsibly in the first place, not relying on some government ban to keep them safe 
. I think this is a slippery slope - next thing you know, they'll be banning all social media for everyone 
. And what's with the cost? AU$280,000 for every failed attempt? That's just gonna make platforms more paranoid and less willing to comply... seems like an overreaction to me 
. as someone who grew up in a different era, i can see how social media has changed the game and not all of it is good vibes 
. but with platforms like twitch being added to the ban list, i hope its a sign that parents and govts are finally taking notice of the risks 
. we need to find a balance between giving kids freedom online and keeping them safe from harm 
i feel bad for all the kids who love playing games and watching streams on twitch but are being banned from it now 
its like they're being punished for using a platform that's supposed to be fun? 
i get why australia wants to protect their youth but shouldn't there be more support in place instead of just taking away access to these platforms? 
... it's not perfect, but at least they're trying 
Twitch can't even let kids under 16 use it? Like what's next?! 
Australia is like totally on top of things here, though. Those gov folks are all about keepin' our youngbloods safe online 
And AU$280k fine for not complyin'? That's some SERIOUS motivation 
Can't wait to see what other countries do next 
I'm not sure if using VPNs is gonna be enough for everyone 
. I think we need to have a more nuanced conversation about online safety rather than just taking drastic measures 
.
and btw, have you tried using a VPN when trying to access those blocked platforms? it's like trying to find a needle in a haystack 
.
. And what about parents who want their kids to have some freedom online? Don't they get a say in this? I mean, I'm not saying all kids are going to go wild on Twitch or whatever, but come on... it's just another example of overregulation 
. What's next, are we gonna ban Discord too? 
.
? It's also interesting that Pinterest is exempt from the ban - what does that say about our current understanding of online safety? 
. It's definitely a step in the right direction for protecting our youngins from online harm 
. But at the same time, I think it's also kinda ridiculous that they're making these exceptions and exemptions - like, can't Pinterest just stay out of it? 
. I just hope they figure out a way to balance our concerns with letting kids access some freedom online 
. And what's with the age limit of 16? That's still pretty young for a lot of kids.
. Like, I get that some parents want to protect their kids, but this just creates more work for them and potentially more opportunities for them to circumvent the rules.