Reddit and Kick Added to Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban
Australia will implement a groundbreaking social media ban for children under 16 starting December 2025. The popular American platform Reddit has been included in this ban, along with the live-streaming site Kick and other major social networks.
Platforms Affected by the Ban
- Kick
- Snapchat
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Threads
- X (formerly Twitter)
Details of the Legislation
The ban takes effect from December 10, 2025. Companies that fail to take “reasonable steps” to disable existing accounts of those under 16 or stop new sign-ups risk fines up to A$50 million (approximately $32.5 million or £25.7 million).
The Australian government emphasized that all banned platforms were selected because they primarily enable online social interaction, with the possibility of adding more sites as technology evolves.
Official Statements on the Ban
“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.”
— Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant
“The online platforms can target children with chilling control, and the ban is about protecting children.”
— Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells
Summary
The Australian government is leading a global initiative to shield children under 16 from social media’s addictive and deceptive features by banning access to key platforms and enforcing strict penalties on non-compliant companies.
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