Australia’s upcoming social media ban for users under 16 will now apply to Kick, the live-streaming platform founded in Australia, marking a rare case of a platform being restricted in its country of origin.
Reddit has also been added to the list of age-restricted platforms ahead of the ban taking effect before the end of 2025.
The eSafety Commission ruled that both services meet the criteria for age restriction, placing them alongside platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. The ban targets services whose “sole or significant purpose is to enable online social interaction.”
Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed the updated list, following meetings with major tech platforms to outline the expectations around compliance.
Kick among platforms to be banned for kids
Starting December 10, 2025, any platform that fails to stop users under the age of 16 from creating accounts could face fines of up to $49.5 million. The eSafety Commission noted that the list of restricted services may evolve over time.
Several companies, including TikTok, Meta, and Snap, confirmed at a recent Senate hearing that they will begin blocking new underage accounts once the law is active. Some are developing features to help young users retrieve data or temporarily suspend their accounts.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the restrictions aim to delay children’s exposure to algorithm-driven content feeds, while giving them time to “learn and grow” offline.
Messaging services and platforms not primarily used for social interaction, such as WhatsApp, Messenger, and Roblox, are currently exempt from the new restrictions.
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