Reddit and Kick Added to Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban
Australia will expand its pioneering social media ban on children under 16 starting December 2025, now including Reddit, the popular American social news platform, and the live-streaming site Kick. This marks a significant increase in the list of restricted platforms.
List of Affected Platforms
- Kick
- Snapchat
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Threads
- X (formerly Twitter)
Enforcement and Penalties
From December 10, 2025, companies face fines up to A$50 million (approximately $32.5 million USD) if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to delete existing accounts held by under-16s or prevent new ones from being created.
Government Explanation
“Each banned platform was chosen because their sole purpose is to enable online social interaction,” the Australian government said, noting that additional sites might be added due to the quickly evolving technology landscape.
Official Perspectives
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant emphasized the benefits of the ban for children:
“Delaying children's access to social media accounts gives them valuable time to learn and grow, free of the powerful, unseen forces of harmful and deceptive design features such as opaque algorithms and endless scroll.”
Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells also stressed the protective intent:
“Online platforms can target children with chilling control, and this ban is about safeguarding our children.”
Summary
This new legislation aims to protect children under 16 by restricting their access to platforms designed primarily for online social interaction, addressing concerns over harmful digital influences and deceptive design.
Author’s Summary: Australia’s groundbreaking ban on social media for children under 16 expands to include Reddit and Kick, emphasizing child safety from harmful digital designs with strict penalties for non-compliant platforms.