Australia Just Banned 9 Social Media Platforms for Everyone Under 16 — And It Starts in 35 Days

The Platforms Affected: Reddit and Kick were just added to the ban list, joining Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), YouTube, Snapchat, and Threads. That's 9 platforms total that must block all Australian users under 16 starting December 10, 2025.

The Penalties: Platforms face fines up to AU$49.5 million (US$32 million) if they fail to take "reasonable steps" to exclude under-16 users. This is the world's strictest social media age restriction law.

What's Exempt: WhatsApp, YouTube Kids, educational platforms, gaming services (like Discord and Twitch), and messaging apps focused on one-to-one communication are not included because their primary purpose isn't "social interaction."

How It Works: Platforms have had 12 months to prepare since the legislation passed in November 2024. Tech companies must implement age verification technology by December 10. Existing under-16 accounts will be shut down, and new accounts blocked.

The Controversy: 140 academics signed an open letter calling the ban a "blunt instrument" that could harm young people by cutting them off from support networks and educational resources.

Imagine waking up December 10 to discover your 15-year-old's Instagram account has been permanently deleted. No warning, no appeal, just... gone.

That's what's about to happen to potentially hundreds of thousands of Australian teenagers in just 35 days.

On Wednesday, Communications Minister Anika Wells announced that Reddit and livestreaming platform Kick are now included in Australia's world-first social media ban for children under 16—bringing the total number of banned platforms to nine.

"Online platforms use technology to target children with chilling control," Wells told reporters. "We are merely asking they use that same technology to keep children safe online."

The countdown is on. December 10, 2025 marks the day Australia becomes the first country in the world to enforce such a comprehensive social media age ban.

BANNED (Must exclude all under-16s):

NOT BANNED (Can still be used by under-16s):

The key distinction? The eSafety Commission says banned platforms have "social interaction" as their "sole or significant purpose." Messaging apps focused on one-to-one communication, educational tools, and gaming services don't meet that criteria.

Initially, discussions focused on the "big six" social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and YouTube. But the eSafety Commission expanded the list after assessing which platforms meet the criteria.

Reddit is a........

© International Business Times