According to Gizmodo, starting December 10, Australia will add Reddit and Kick to its list of social media platforms banned for users under 16. The country’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, announced the restrictions which now include TikTok, X, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and YouTube. Platforms themselves must figure out how to prevent underage users from creating accounts or face fines up to AU$49.5 million. This regulatory approach stems from expanded powers granted to the eSafety Commissioner in 2022 following outrage over the spread of Christchurch mosque shooting footage. The government expects companies to self-assess whether they need to ban kids without direct intervention. Reddit’s inclusion means 14-year-olds theoretically won’t be able to post on subreddits like r/Im14andthisisdeep or anywhere else on the platform.
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Who’s Actually Doing the Work Here?
Here’s the thing that jumps out immediately: Australia isn’t building the technology to enforce this. They’re essentially telling platforms “figure it out yourselves or pay up.” That’s a massive burden shift. Companies now have to develop age verification systems that work across an entire country – and we’ve seen how well that’s gone elsewhere.
Remember when YouTube tried age-gating content? Or when various platforms implemented “are you over 18?” checkboxes that anyone could click through? Basically, we’re looking at either incredibly invasive data collection (hello, privacy concerns) or completely ineffective solutions that kids will bypass in minutes.
The Ever-Growing Ban List
What started as targeting major platforms keeps expanding. According to reports, Roblox, OpenAI’s Sora, Discord, Steam, and Twitch are all on the government’s radar. That’s practically the entire digital social landscape for teens. Where does this end?
Think about it – these platforms aren’t just for entertainment. They’re where kids connect with friends, explore interests, and sometimes even do schoolwork. A blanket ban feels like using a sledgehammer when maybe a scalpel would be more appropriate. And let’s be real – determined teens will find workarounds, whether through VPNs, lying about their age, or moving to platforms the government hasn’t caught up with yet.
This Isn’t How America Does It
The article notes this approach would look “alien” to Americans, and they’re right. The eSafety Commissioner has powers that combine elements of the FCC and FTC but with a much stronger focus on content regulation. This isn’t just about privacy or data protection – it’s about outright access.
After the Christchurch shootings spread across social media, Australia was determined to take action. The initial legislation faced criticism for being rushed, and now we’re seeing the practical implementation. But does banning Reddit for 15-year-olds actually address the root problems of online harm? Or are we just creating digital dead zones that push activity elsewhere?
The Enforcement Nightmare
So how exactly is Reddit supposed to verify the age of every Australian user? Facial recognition? Government ID uploads? Credit card checks? Each option comes with massive privacy implications and technical challenges. And what about existing users who are under 16 – are they getting kicked off en masse on December 10?
The Guardian coverage suggests platforms are expected to use “industry-standard age verification” – but industry standard for what? Social media age verification is notoriously unreliable. We’re basically asking companies to solve a problem that nobody has successfully solved at scale.
Meanwhile, as the BBC noted back in 2019 when Australia first started down this path, there are serious questions about whether blanket bans actually protect kids or just drive their online activity underground. When you make something forbidden, you often make it more appealing – and less supervised.
