Australia’s breadth and reach is growing as livestream platform Twitch has now been added to the list of platforms restricted to users under 16. The nationwide ban is the first of its kind and includes Facebook, X, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube and more recently.
according to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said Twitch was included because it was “one of the most commonly used platforms for livestreaming or posting content that enables users, including Australian children, to interact with others in relation to the posted content.”
No other platforms are expected to be added before the law takes effect next month. Grant also said Friday that Pinterest would not be included in the ban because the platform’s main purpose is not online social interaction.
Under the ban, platforms are expected to take “reasonable steps” to prevent underage users from accessing their platforms, and face hefty fees for failure to comply. Although solutions may be found in some cases, the law still creates a huge barrier to entry for users under 16 years of age.
Earlier this month, its lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement to enact similar restrictions for users under 15, though details were scarce. In the US, several states have attempted to enact such a ban, including, although these measures either failed to pass or are pending in court. Even laws that don’t go as far, such as requiring parents to give permission for teens to open social media accounts, are facing stiff opposition on First Amendment grounds.
Nowadays there is concern about minors’ social media because these platforms are concerned about their youngest users.