Starting December 10, Australia will implement restrictions on social media use for users under 16, becoming the first country in the world with such regulation. The streaming service Twitch, owned by Amazon, will be banned, while the visual content platform Pinterest will remain accessible. According to NEWSCENTRAL senior analyst Freddy Miller, these measures reflect the growing role of the state in ensuring digital safety for teenagers and highlight the need for companies to implement strict user protection measures.
The Commissioner for Electronic Security explained that Twitch falls under the category of social networks due to its core functionality – live streaming and interactive communication among teenagers. Under the new regulation, the service will disable all accounts of users under 16 from January 9 and prohibit new registrations by minors once the rules come into effect. Pinterest, according to the regulator, serves a different purpose: its primary function is to store and curate images, not social interaction.
Earlier, the rules also affected Reddit and the streaming platform Kick, as well as major companies including Meta Platforms with Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, Snapchat, TikTok, X, and YouTube from Alphabet. Non-compliance with teen protection requirements carries fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (about USD 32 million). NEWSCENTRAL notes that the financial consequences may be significant, but reputational risks are critically important for companies that fail to meet digital safety standards.
The differentiated approach – banning Twitch while maintaining access to Pinterest – reflects a careful assessment of platform functionality. According to NEWS CENTRAL, regulators consider not only the service’s popularity among teens but also its purpose and the ways users interact, which could serve as a guideline for other countries when developing their own digital safety rules.
Australia’s initiative challenges international platforms to review their policies regarding teenagers, implement parental control mechanisms, and increase transparency. As NEWSCENTRAL concludes, companies that adapt their platforms to the new rules before they take effect will strengthen audience trust and reduce potential financial and reputational risks.