Twitch Ban for Under 16s: Social Media Rules Change

Twitch Added to Australia’s Social Media Ban for Children and Teenagers

Australia is expanding its landmark legislation restricting social media access for young people to include twitch, the popular live streaming platform. The move, announced less than three weeks before the ban takes effect on December 10, adds Twitch to a growing list of age-restricted sites including Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X.

The Australian government’s initiative aims to shield children and teenagers from the potential harms of social media. While the law provides an exemption for platforms primarily dedicated to gaming, the eSafety commissioner, Julie Inman grant, resolute that Twitch’s interactive streaming features outweigh its gaming focus.

“Twitch is a platform moast commonly used for live streaming or posting content that enables users, including Australian children, to interact with others in relation to the content posted,” a statement released by the eSafety commissioner explained. This emphasis on user interaction, according to the commissioner, positions Twitch as a social media platform rather than a purely gaming-focused service.

Under the new regulations, no Australian users under the age of 16 will be permitted to create new Twitch accounts starting December 10. Existing accounts belonging to users under 16 will be deactivated throughout the following month.Twitch already requires all users globally to be at least 13 years old, with parental or guardian supervision mandated for those under 18.

Did you know? – Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is responsible for enforcing online safety laws, including this new social media ban. The commissioner has broad powers to investigate and compel platforms to comply.

The government’s ban requires platforms to verify the age of their users and prevent anyone under 16 from establishing an account. Currently, the list of affected platforms includes Facebook, instagram, threads, Snapchat, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Kick, and now Twitch.

The inclusion of Roblox remains a challenge, with the eSafety commissioner acknowledging it will be “trick” to incorporate into the ban.A spokesperson for Communications Minister Anika Wells emphasized that the list of platforms covered by the ban “remains dynamic,” but no further assessments are planned before the December 10 deadline.

“Our historic law simply aims to provide Australian children with a reprieve from the persuasive pull of platforms,” the spokesperson stated. “We are not chasing perfection, we are chasing a meaningful difference in the lives of young Australians.”

Pro tip: – Parents and guardians should discuss online safety with their children, regardless of platform restrictions. Open dialog is key to navigating the digital world responsibly.

Social media companies that fail to comply with the regulations and take “reasonable steps” to remove underage users face potential fines of up to nearly $50 million. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has already announced plans to begin removing underage users two weeks before the ban officially begins.

Communications Minister Anika Wells and Twitch have been contacted for further comment.

Reader question: – do you think age verification on social media is effective? What other measures could be taken to protect young people online? Share your thoughts!

Why: The Australian government enacted this legislation to protect children and teenagers from potential harms associated with social media, such as cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and mental health concerns.

Who: The key players are the Australian government (specifically the eSafety Commissioner and Communications Minister Anika Wells),social media platforms (including Twitch,Meta,and others),and Australian users under 16.

What: The legislation bans Australian users under 16 from creating new accounts on designated social media platforms and will deactivate existing accounts belonging to underage users. Twitch was recently added to the list of affected platforms.

How did it end?: The ban is set to take effect on December 10, with platforms required to verify user ages and remove underage users. Platforms failing to comply face substantial fines. Meta has already begun