### Australia Takes Bold Step: Expanding Social Media Ban to Include Twitch for Teens Australia is set to implement a groundbreaking social media ban for users aged 16 and under, which will take effect on December 10, 2025. This legislation aims to protect minors from potential online harms associated with social media use. The Australian government has recently added Amazon's Twitch, a popular live-streaming platform, to the list of banned services, while notably exempting Pinterest from these restrictions. This move positions Australia as the first country to enforce such stringent age restrictions on social media platforms, joining other major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube already covered by the ban [https://www.firstpost.com/world/australia-expands-under-16-social-media-ban-to-include-twitch-spares-pinterest-ws-e-13952897.html][https://www.engadget.com/social-media/australia-is-adding-twitch-to-its-social-media-ban-for-children-202033276.html]. ### Structure of the New Social Media Ban 1. **Overview of the Ban**: - The ban prohibits users under 16 from creating or maintaining accounts on specified social media platforms. - Platforms affected include Twitch, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter) [https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/twitch-joins-australias-historic-under16-social-media-ban-alongside-instagram-tiktok-snapchat-and-facebook/news-story/ba3a15cecad4ac4a390835b7914802a0]. 2. **Implementation Timeline**: - The ban will officially take effect on December 10, 2025. - Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) will begin deactivating accounts of users under 16 starting December 4, 2025, to comply with the new law [https://www.patrika.com/en/world-news/meta-to-block-instagram-and-facebook-accounts-for-under-16s-in-australia-from-december-20116005.html]. 3. **Exemptions and Compliance**: - Pinterest has been exempted from the ban, which has raised questions about the criteria for inclusion in the restrictions [https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australia-adds-amazons-twitch-to-teen-social-media-ban-spares-pinterest]. - Social media companies that fail to comply with the ban could face fines of up to AUD 49.5 million (approximately USD 32 million) [https://www.indianexpress.com/article/world/instagram-shutting-accounts-australia-teens-social-media-ban-10375713]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Affected User Base**: - Approximately 350,000 Instagram users and 150,000 Facebook users in Australia are aged between 13 and 15, who will be impacted by this ban [https://www.thedailystar.net/news/world/news/meta-remove-under-16-australians-facebook-instagram-december-4-4039291]. - **Compliance Measures**: - Meta has initiated a notification process for users under 16, advising them to download their data before account deactivation [https://www.apnews.com/article/meta-media-ban-children-australia-334458608b809a26cc07ea74e39b9b7b]. - Age verification methods, including video selfies, will be employed to ensure compliance with the new regulations [https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/meta-to-deactivate-instagram-facebook-accounts-of-australian-teens/story]. ### Conclusion: A Historic Move Towards Online Safety for Minors In summary, **Australia's new social media ban represents a significant step towards safeguarding minors from the potential dangers of online interactions**. The inclusion of Twitch in the ban, alongside other major platforms, underscores the government's commitment to creating a safer digital environment for young users. 1. **Implementation of the ban on December 10, 2025** will restrict access to several popular platforms for users under 16. 2. **Meta's proactive measures** to deactivate accounts ahead of the deadline highlight the urgency of compliance. 3. **The exemption of Pinterest** raises questions about the criteria for platform inclusion, indicating a need for clarity in the legislation. As Australia leads the way in regulating social media use among minors, the effectiveness of these measures will be closely monitored, potentially influencing similar actions in other countries [https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/meta-block-facebook-and-instagram-australian-teens-december-10-5477411].