Twitch Joins Australia'S Under-16 Social Media Ban: What It Means For Young Gamers

Twitch Added to Australia's Social Media Blacklist

Australia is making headlines with its upcoming legislation that aims to shield children under 16 from social media. The latest platform to join the list of banned apps is Twitch, the Amazon-owned streaming favorite among young gamers. On Friday, the country's internet watchdog confirmed that Twitch will be part of the groundbreaking law set to take effect soon.

This move positions Australia as a global pioneer, becoming the first nation to impose such strict social media age limits. The law warns non-compliant companies of penalties up to a steep $32 million (A$49.5 million), should they fail to take "reasonable steps" to enforce these guidelines.

Why Twitch is on the Chopping Block

Although Twitch is primarily a gaming platform, Australia's eSafety Commissioner clarified that its interactive features qualify it as a social media service. This means children could potentially communicate with others, which the government seeks to curb. As part of the new rules, Twitch announced that as of January 9, accounts for users aged 16 and under will be deactivated. Additionally, new registrations from underage users will be restricted.

“Delaying account access until 16 will give young people more time to develop important skills and maturity,” the Australian government explained, emphasizing the need for "breathing space" for kids to grow digitally and socially.

What's In, What's Out

While Twitch and major players like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are on the ban list, some popular platforms are notably absent. Pinterest, for instance, dodged the ban because its core function isn't social interaction. Other services like Discord, Google Classroom, and YouTube Kids remain accessible under specific contexts.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, previously announced plans to begin blocking accounts for users under 16 as of December 4, offering teenagers the chance to save their data before the shutdown.

Enforcement Challenges

How will these bans be enforced? That's still a bit of a puzzle. Suggestions include requiring users to confirm their age through a government-issued ID or a digital ID service. However, the eSafety Commissioner assured that no one would be forced to use such identification methods. Instead, platforms will need to provide reasonable alternatives for age verification.

Experts believe this initiative might encourage young people to engage more in real-world activities. "If we want to support young people’s wellbeing, we need to help them rebalance their time – encouraging them to reconnect with real-world activities that build skills, confidence, and social connection," said Dot Dumuid, a behavioral epidemiologist from the University of South Australia.