Popular forum site Reddit has been added to Australia's world-first social media ban for children under 16 that starts next month.
Live-streaming platform Kick will also be included, bringing the number of sites targeted in the ban to nine. They include Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Threads.
From 10 December, tech companies can be fined up to A$50m ($32.5m; £25.7m) if they do not take 'reasonable steps' to deactivate existing accounts for under-16s and prohibit new ones.
Each banned platform was chosen as their 'sole or a significant purpose is to enable online social interaction,' the government said, and more sites may be added given the 'fast-changing' nature of technology.
'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,' said Australia's eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
Messaging services Discord and WhatsApp, as well as gaming platforms Lego Play and Roblox, will not be included, nor will Google Classroom and YouTube Kids.
Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells stated that online platforms can target children with 'chilling control' and the ban was about protecting children. 'We aren't chasing perfection, we are chasing a meaningful difference,' she said.
It remains unclear how companies will implement the ban—which is being closely monitored by global leaders—but potential methods could include using official ID documents, parental approval, and facial recognition technology.
Critics have raised concerns about data privacy and the effectiveness of age verification software, with reports indicating that the proposed methods all have risks or shortcomings.
Most Australian adults support the ban according to polls, but some mental health advocates argue that it may sever kids' connections and push them towards even less regulated areas of the internet. They advocate for better policing of harmful content on online platforms instead.
An influencer family from Australia, having millions of YouTube followers, announced they would relocate to the UK to escape the impending ban so their 14-year-old daughter can continue producing online content.
Initially, YouTube was exempt from the ban but the government reversed its decision in July, stating it was 'the most frequently cited platform' associated with children aged 10 to 15 years encountering 'harmful content'.
While teens under 16 can still watch YouTube videos, they will not be permitted to have an account, which is necessary for uploading content or engaging with the platform.
