Australian teens below 16 can't use Twitch anymore
What's the story
Australia's eSafety watchdog has added Amazon-owned live streaming service Twitch to its upcoming ban on social media platforms for users under the age of 16. The ban, which comes into effect on December 10, will make Australia the first country in the world to impose such a restriction. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties up to A$49.5 million ($32 million).
Ban rationale
Twitch's interactive content leads to ban inclusion
The eSafety Commissioner has classified Twitch as a social media service due to its focus on livestreaming and posting interactive content. These features allow users, including children, to communicate with each other. As part of the new rules, all user accounts for people aged 16 and under will be deactivated from January 9. The platform also plans to prevent new under-age users from creating accounts once the ban comes into effect next month.
Exemption
Pinterest exempted from Australia's social media ban
Unlike Twitch, Pinterest has been spared from the upcoming ban. The eSafety Commissioner clarified that while some online social interaction is possible on Pinterest, it isn't its main purpose. Instead, the platform is primarily used for collecting images and curating ideas. This distinction between the two platforms is what led to Twitch's inclusion in the ban and Pinterest's exemption.
Ban expansion
Other platforms included in the ban
The eSafety Commissioner has also expanded the ban to include Reddit and video live streaming platform Kick. Major companies already covered by this restriction include Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and Alphabet-owned YouTube.