Australia Cracks Down: Reddit Joins Social Media Ban for Under-16s!

Reddit has been added to Australia's new social media ban for children under 16, which will begin next month. This move makes Australia the first country in the world to introduce such a wide-reaching ban. Reddit is a popular forum site where people discuss a variety of topics, and now it joins other major platforms like Facebook, X, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Threads, and Kick, a live-streaming service, in the ban. In total, nine platforms are now included.

Starting December 10, technology companies that run these platforms could face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars if they do not take reasonable steps to deactivate accounts belonging to children under 16 and prevent new ones from being created. The government chose these platforms because their main purpose is to allow people to interact online. Officials also said that more sites could be added in the future, as technology is always changing.

Australia's eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, explained that delaying children's access to social media gives them time to grow and learn without being influenced by things like hidden algorithms and endless scrolling. Some platforms, such as Discord, WhatsApp, Lego Play, Roblox, Google Classroom, and YouTube Kids, are not included in the ban. Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells said that online platforms can have a strong influence over children, and the ban is meant to protect them. She emphasized that the goal is not perfection, but to make a meaningful difference in children's lives.

It is still unclear how companies will enforce the ban. Some possible methods include using official identification documents, getting parental approval, or using facial recognition technology. However, critics have raised concerns about privacy and whether age verification software will be accurate enough.

Most adults in Australia support the ban, according to recent polls. However, some mental health advocates worry that it could isolate children and cut them off from important social connections. Others believe that the ban might push young people to less regulated parts of the internet, which could be even more dangerous. These critics suggest that the government should focus on better monitoring harmful content on social media and teaching children how to navigate the online world safely.

Recently, an Australian influencer family with millions of YouTube followers announced that they would move to the UK so their 14-year-old daughter could continue creating online content. YouTube was originally not included in the ban, but in July, officials changed their decision, saying that YouTube was the platform where children aged 10 to 15 most often saw harmful content. Under the new rules, teens under 16 will still be able to watch YouTube videos, but they will not be allowed to have an account, upload content, or interact with others on the site.